Liverpool’s famous third striker has finally broken down after Sadio Mane was reluctantly given the green light to seal a £ 35.1m deal at Bayern Munich.
Sadio Mané has left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich (
Image: REUTERS)
Sadio Mane has been reluctantly given the green light to leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich with a £ 35.1m deal, despite Gary Neville regularly hailing him as one of the best in the Premier League.
After hinting that he was anxious to find new pastures before last month’s Champions League final, Mane has now said goodbye to Anfield as he prepares to connect with his new club after a six-year trophy-laden stay at Merseyside.
Mane was one of the first signings of Jurgen Klopp after the former Borussia Dortmund manager reached the Premier League, and Mane has become one of the most complete strikers in the top division under Klopp’s direction in recent years.
Jamie Carragher offers an immediate reaction when Sadio Mane finally accepts Liverpool’s departure Liverpool bosses have rejected Sadio Mane’s demand for Bayern Munich’s £ 35.1million transfer.
Mane was an integral part of Liverpool’s dreaded front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino; although his constant excellence was sometimes overshadowed by the genius of his Egyptian teammate.
But Neville has never had any doubts about Mane’s quality, with the former Manchester United defender often claiming that Mane’s game and work ethic set him apart from other strikers. Neville wrote a lyric about the 30-year-old’s outstanding work rate during a 2020 win over Chelsea.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: “Well, to begin with, we will admire you, Sadio Mane. He is an exceptional talent, but his pace of work is equally exceptional. football with the ball in and out of the ball.
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Gary Neville often praised Mane for supporting his predator by ending an exemplary work pace (
Image:
Sky Sports)
“Give the ball away. And look at that reaction to giving up the ball; anger, expectation. Forget about Kepa, we know it’s coming. Mane knows he’s taking advantage. He’s brilliant at the Liverpool striker.”
While Klopp or anyone else could have done it realistically once Mane had decided that his future was elsewhere, losing the sprinter would be a big blow to his title aspirations.
Liverpool could have played hard and kept Mane in the final year of his contract, but after six years of excellent service, that would have been an incredibly tough move. No one would deny that Mane deserves his move after years of exemplary performances.
Darwin Núñez has been hired to replace Mane (
Image:
Getty Images)
But replacing someone like Mane is easier said than done. Liverpool have earned a reputation for being cunning in the transfer market in recent years, so it should come as no surprise that they have already splashed the money to incorporate Darwin Núñez as Mane’s long-term replacement.
However, there is no guarantee that Benfica’s shot will be able to replicate Mane’s high-octane style and seemingly endless pace of work. Obviously, Núñez has his own qualities on the table: he was courted by a number of European heavyweights for a reason after scoring 26 goals in the league in just 28 games last season.
But it’s not a similar substitute for Mane on paper. But again, there are very few that would be.
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Sadio Mane leaves Liverpool when the Reds reach a £ 35.1m deal with Bayern Munich
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