MUNICH TEAR FESTIVAL
Emotional Mane says he has mixed feelings as he swaps Liverpool for megabucks Bayern
SADIO MANE had three words to explain his feelings as he said a sad farewell to Liverpool.
The Senegal star completed a big-money move to Bayern Munich yesterday as he officially put pen to paper on a three-year contract worth around £56million.
And he sent an emotional message to the Anfield fans he left behind, by admitting that it felt “really, really strange” to no longer represent them and the great Merseyside club.
In a direct message to the supporters, he said: “It’s difficult to find the right words for this. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, I am so pleased to be a small part of this incredible success we had together during the last six years.”
Mane revealed, in an interview with the Liverpool club website, that he had made up his mind to leave last season but refused to speak out on his decision because he didn’t want to upset his team’s Quadruple pursuit.
And he hinted he went because he knew he was valued more highly elsewhere, with the Anfield club setting a strict wage policy which Bayern smashed with their offer.
“I’m not a confused boy in my head. Obviously I know what I want and I know what is professional for me,” he explained.
“So I was not even thinking about it (his decision to leave) because I was still a Liverpool player and we had really, really important games.
“I did not want (to make) any comments about it because winning the Champions League and the Premier League, that would have been fantastic for myself, for the club and for everybody.”
Liverpool have so far firmly stuck to their guns in wage negotiations with their big ‘front three’, with Mane leaving and both Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino yet to agree new deals, despite entering the final year of their contracts.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has spoken for the first time about Mane’s departure and paid a glowing tribute to the star.
He said: “It’s a big moment. There is no point in anyone trying to pretend otherwise. One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this 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 world football.
“But we must not dwell on what we now lose, instead celebrate what we were privileged to have. The goals he scored, the trophies he won. A legend, for sure, but also a modern-day Liverpool icon.
“Since he first stepped through the door, he made us better. If someone had told us in that moment what he would go on to contribute and achieve for this club, I’m not sure it would have been possible to comprehend in that moment. Not the scale of it at least. Sadio made it all possible.”