Sadio Mane could be leaving Bayern Munich this summer after just one season with the Bundesliga club.
The 31-year-old signed a three-year deal after he joined from Liverpool for a reported £27.5 million ($36m) in July 2022. Although he helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title, his move has not gone as planned.
Bayern had to wait until the final day to win the domestic title and only did so after Borussia Dortmund failed to win their fixture. They were also knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Champions League by Manchester City.
The Sporting News looks at the latest transfer news surrounding Mane in the 2023 summer window.
MORE: Bayern squad 2023/24 players, contracts, transfer fees and salaries
Is Sadio Mane leaving Bayern Munich?
Thomas Tuchel ended the season as Bayern head coach after Julian Nagelsmann was sacked by the board, which has since been changed. The former Dortmund coach did not hold back when asked about Mane’s debut season.
Tuchel said: “Sadio had an unsatisfactory season and fell short of expectations. The competitive situation is extremely high for him with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry.”
Reports in Germany suggest that Saudi Pro League sides Al Ahli, Al Ettifaq and Al Nassr are all interested in signing Mane, and Bayern are open to offers for the winger.
What’s gone wrong for Sadio Mane at Bayern?
Mane has struggled to find the form he had at Liverpool, where he won all three domestic trophies and the Champions League. He struggled to score in key matches, often finding himself outdone by the likes of Coman and Gnabry.
Things also got worse when news broke out of an altercation with Leroy Sane in the dressing room following the defeat to Manchester City. He allegedly punched his teammate, leading to a brief suspension by the club.
Mane played as a striker many times in the season as he struggled to make an impact on the wing and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was not scoring as often as Nagelsmann and Tuchel wanted. However, Mane failed to thrive through the middle of the attack — a key problem area for Bayern due to the departure of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.
MORE: Festival of Football schedule: Dates and times for preseason tournament
Sadio Mane Bayern stats
Mane’s struggle for form also meant less game time throughout the season. He played close to 1,400 fewer minutes in the Bundesliga compared to his 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
Seven of his 12 goals in his first season with the Bavarian club came in the league, with only three coming in the Champions League. He also found it difficult to set up his teammates, picking up just six assists in the season.
Sadio Mane Bayern stats 2022/23
| Competition | Games (Starts) | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 25 (18) | 7 | 5 | 1,431 |
| Champions League | 9 (6) | 3 | 1 | 551 |
| DFB-Pokal | 3 (2) | 1 | 0 | 132 |
| DFL-Supercup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 90 |
| Total | 38 (26) | 12 | 6 | 2,204 |
MORE: Bayern Munich signings 2023/24: Konrad Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro lead the way
Where will Sadio Mane go?
Mane could join the influx of players who have already joined the Saudi Pro League. His Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy has already joined Al Ahli, one of the teams said to be interested in Mane. A move to the Middle East looks like the most viable option for the forward.
Paris Saint-Germain are another club who could be looking to sign Mane this summer. The Ligue 1 champions have already parted ways with Lionel Messi while Kylian Mbappe and Neymar could also be on their way out. This could leave Luis Enrique needing more attacking options.
A transfer back to Liverpool is almost completely out of the question. The Reds have signed Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez is recent windows to strengthen their attacking depth.
Part of the problem is Mane’s wages. According to Capology, Mane earns £362,670 ($471,112) per week, and major clubs capable of offering similar sums do not appear to be interested in signing the 31-year-old. If he is to play for a top European side next season, he will likely need to do so on a reduced salary.