Sadio Mane recently joined Bayern Munich and his absence will be sorely felt by Liverpool fans. After all, the Senegalese hitman elevated himself to new heights.
During his six years on the red half of Merseyside, Mane enjoyed a trophy-laden spell, as he lifted the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
The 30-year-old had just 12 months left to run on his existing contract before he put pen to paper on a three-year deal with Bayern, and it will represent a new and exciting chapter for Mane.
Of course, Mane formed a lethal partnership over the past few seasons with Mohamed Salah. And last term, he improved his output in front of goal, netting 16 times in the Premier League.
There was no stone unturned and Mane has become a modern-day icon at Anfield, something which was strongly echoed by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
Discussing Mane’s departure, Klopp said: “One of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant that is.
“He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed. And yes, he leaves in a moment where he is one of the best players in the world.”
Nevertheless, this is a new beginning for Mane, who will look to seamlessly slot into a Bayern side that has an abundance of attacking riches. When comparing some of last season’s stats with those of his new team-mates, Mane was more prolific in front of goal, and he could become the focal point for the German powerhouse.
Of course, it will be fascinating to see whether Robert Lewandowski will stay on to form a telepathic partnership with Mane, as the Polish talisman has recently hinted that he could leave. There has been swirling speculation that Barcelona are lying in wait ready to pounce, despite growing concerns over the state of the club’s finances.
Mane will of course be required to help Bayern push on in the Champions League as they have failed to get past the quarter-finals in each of the past two seasons. Bayern has had a vice-like grip on the Bundesliga in which they have clinched the title for the past 10 seasons on the trot.
While Mane’s move to Bayern may have caused some ripples of surprise for those connected with Liverpool, his move no doubt shows a serious sign of intent from Bayern. There will be reputable betting sites all over the world rushing to post odds on Bayern’s chances of success in the Bundesliga and Champions League next season. This will include bet365 in Australia, where you can find some competitive futures odds across all of Europe’s top leagues and you can also find enhanced prices to get more bang for your buck.
There is no doubting that Mane has left an indelible impact on Liverpool, although Klopp has an unshakeable belief in his ‘mentality monsters’ and having already sealed a couple of deals, they could go on to have another fabulous campaign next term.
While loyalty is something that is questioned regularly in football, Mane has been an excellent servant to Liverpool and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him thrive for Bayern. He can leave Anfield with his head held high and he has cemented his legacy as one of the best players to have turned out for the club.
