A couple of days after Cristiano Ronaldo played his last match for Manchester United, Sadio Mane was limping off the pitch at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. There were only 20 minutes on the clock at Bayern’s Bundesliga meeting with Werder Bremen.
The bad news arrived at a pause. It turned out Mane had sustained a calf injury far more serious than first thought. It would turn out to be a significant breaking point in his difficult relationship with Bayern.
Mane, whose move from the German champions to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League was completed on Tuesday, might now reflect on the shared timing of their ruptures with previous employers when he sits down in Riyadh with Ronaldo, now a team-mate and a fellow star in a league acquiring some of the most medalled footballers in the world.
Mane and CR7 can share many stories. There are the fall-outs at their previous clubs, teams they had joined amid such high expectations. Ronaldo celebrated as a ‘homecoming’ his return to an OId Trafford where he had, as a young winger, blossomed into a global superstar. Last November, he then clashed very publicly with a United hierarchy he said had “betrayed” him.
Mane, for his part, joined Bayern a year ago as, in the words of Jurgen Klopp, “a world-class player, on a high, in really good shape.” He leaves Bayern having fallen short, in the period either side of the fibula injury that also ruled him out Senegal’s World Cup campaign, of his and the club’s targets.
Mane came to Bavaria as a senior striker who, if not like-for-like in terms of skill-sets, was a replacement for Bayern’s record-breaking Robert Lewandowski. He finished up with 12 goals from 38 games, but was increasingly reconciled to starting on the substitutes bench. Frustrations were not always contained. He had a dressing-room confrontation with Leroy Sane that led to him being fined and briefly suspended by the club.
“I don’t know what went wrong,” added Klopp, who prized Mane hugely as manager of Liverpool for six years, grateful for his crucial contributions to Premier League and Champions League successes. “To fulfill your potential, I think everything has to fall into place. Luck is helpful too and that was obviously not the case: a bad injury in a horrible moment [meant] the World Cup was gone. Sadio is a proud man and that he couldn’t lead his country at a World Cup was brutal.”
Here’s more common ground with Ronaldo, whom Mane will partner in a de luxe forward line of two proud and patriotic men. On the one hand the Portuguese who led his country to their first and so far only European championship at the age of 31; on the other, the Senegalese who spearheaded his nation’s greatest ever achievement, a maiden lifting of the African Cup of Nations at the age of 30.
Of all the processions to the Pro League in this transformative summer, the one that comes in jangling with African medals is almost the most eye-catching: the spine of the Afcon holders’ squad is now reassembled in Jeddah and Riyadh, with Senegal’s Edu Mendy in goal for Al Ahli, Kalidou Koulibaly marshalling Al Hilal’s defence and Mane aspiring to find a way past both for Al Nassr.
The reigning African Footballer of the Year - Mane - also joins the 2016 winner of that award, Al Ahli’s Riyad Mahrez, as a Pro League initiate.
Other familiars pepper Mane’s imminent diary. Al Nassr begin their league season against Al Ettifaq, now the club of Jordan Henderson, a team-mate for almost 200 Liverpool matches. Al Ahli’s Roberto Firmino was for many years a generous, tuned-in attacking partner for Mane and Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, part of a trio in which personal, competitive pride occasionally surfaced but which mostly functioned so effectively because they understood how best to dovetail.
Mane’s tandem with Ronaldo will blossom if they too can synchronise their strengths, if neither hogs the left channel of attack at the expense of the other and both are alive to one another’s expert, off-the-ball runs. Even into their 30s, both can become to the other as Karim Benzema - now at Al Ittihad - used to be to Ronaldo at Real Madrid, a perfect foil; or as Firmino used to be to Mane at Liverpool.
At Bayern, the transfer of Mane, for a shade under the €30m they paid Liverpool for him a year ago, has given impetus to their latest attempt at replacing Lewandowski, in the form of a club record bid to prise Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur.
The German club have needed patience and persistence so far in pursuing Kane. They will bank on the likelihood that anybody stepping into Mane’s old Bayern boots will have more luck in the role than the Senegalese did.
Top Saudi Pro League signings
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): The transfer that started it all. The Portuguese superstar moved to the Saudi Pro League in January after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in his first 16 Saudi Pro League games. AFP -
Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad): The first statement signing of the summer transfer window, Ballon d'Or holder Benzema joined the Saudi champions after agreeing an exit from Real Madrid. The French striker was welcomed with a fittingly grand ceremony. Reuters -
N'Golo Kante (Al Ittihad): The French midfielder soon followed Benzema to Ittihad once his Chelsea contract expired. Kante, a two-time Premier League winner and World Cup champion, adds further glamour to the Saudi Pro League. AFP -
Ruben Neves (Al Hilal): By far the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history. While Ronaldo and Benzema are the bigger global names, both arrived on free transfers. Portuguese midfielder Neves shattered the transfer record by moving to Hilal from Wolves for £47 million. AP -
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal): After completing the record-breaking move for Neves, Hilal turned their attention to Koulibaly, recruiting the Senegalese centre-back for £20m. Despite a difficult season at Chelsea, Koulibaly has been one of the standout defenders of his generation. AFP -
Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli): Before his long-term shoulder injury, Mendy was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. His £16m move to Ahli can help revive his career. AFP -
Jota (Al Ittihad): The Saudi champions are making major moves this summer, and the £25m acquisition of Portuguese winger Jota boosts an attack led by Benzema. PA -
Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr): Arriving to provide support to Ronaldo at Nassr, Croatian midfielder Brozovic joined the Saudi club for £15m after another impressive season for Champions League finalists Inter Milan. AFP -
Steven Gerrard (Al Ettifaq): Major arrivals are not only happening on the pitch but in the dugout. Former Rangers and Aston Villa manager Gerrard was appointed by Ettifaq and will aim to revive his career in Saudi. AFP -
Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli): The former Liverpool forward left Anfield after eight successful seasons to lead the attack at Ahli. @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter -
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal): Arguably the most eye-catching deal of the summer. The 28-year-old Serbia midfielder has frequently been linked with Europe's biggest clubs but has opted to join Hilal in a €40m deal. His midfield partnership with Ruben Neves would be the envy of many European teams. Reuters -
Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq): The former Liverpool captain is expected to wear the armband following his move from the Premier League giants. The midfielder departed Anfield after 12 years, seven major trophies and 492 appearances. Reuters -
Alex Telles (Al Nassr): The Brazilian defender linked up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr this summer. Telles spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Sevilla, helping the Spanish club win the Europa League. He joined Nassr for a reported fee of £4 million. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) - Algerian winger Mahrez left Manchester City after five years at the Etihad Stadium in which he won 11 major trophies. In all, he made 236 appearances, scoring 78 goals. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin (Al Ahli): The French winger signed for Jeddah giants Al Ahli on a three-year contract after confirming his departure from Newcastle. During his four years on Tyneside, Saint-Maximin scored 13 goals in 124 appearances. AFP -
Fabinho (Al Ittihad): An integral part of a Liverpool squad that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons following his move from Monaco in 2019. Capped 29 times for his country, the Brazilian midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League champions on a three-year contract. AP -
Sadio Mane (Al Nassr): After six highly successful years at Liverpool, in which he won the Premier League and Uefa Champions League titles, Mane endured a frustrating season at Bayern Munich, though he contributed to their title success. The Senegalese, 31, will be part of a fearsome attacking line up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Nassr. Getty -
Malcom (Al Hilal): Not content with breaking the Saudi Pro League transfer record once, Al Hilal did so twice this summer and made Brazilian winger Malcom the most expensive player in Saudi football history. AFP -
Seko Fofana (Al Nassr): A player in demand this summer after a superb season to help Lens run PSG close in Ligue 1, the Ivory Coast midfielder opted to link up with Ronaldo at Al Nassr over moves elsewhere in Europe. AC Milan had been strongly linked. AFP -
Franck Kessie (Al Ahli): The Ivory Coast midfielder's time at Barcelona may not have worked out but he remains a top-level operator and adds more quality and star power to Al Ahli. Getty -
Moussa Dembele (Al Ettifaq): A shrewd free transfer by Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, the French striker has moved to the Saudi Pro League side on a four-year deal and should provide the goals. AFP -
Neymar (Al Hilal). The Brazilian completed his move from PSG and is one of the biggest stars in the ever-expanding Saudi Pro League. He was unveiled in front of thousands of fans in Riyadh on Saturday. Getty -
Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab). After 265 appearances across two spells at Atletico Madrid, the Belgian winger joined the Riyadh club for a reported fee of €15 million. Carrasco also spent two years in the Chinese Super League. EPA -
Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq): The Dutch midfielder enhanced the Liverpool connection at Ettifaq, joining former teammate Jordan Henderson at the Damman club coached by Reds legend Steven Gerrard. Wijnaldum, 32, has signed a three-year contract. Reuters -
Gabri Veiga (Al Ahli): Widely regarded as one of the best midfield prospects in Spain, 21-year-old Veiga signed for Ahli on a three-year deal from Celta Vigo despite interest from Liverpool and Napoli. Veiga said he opted for the Saudi Pro League to "grow the game" in the kingdom. EPA -
Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr): A vital part of Manchester City's squad that clinched a treble of league, cup and Uefa Champions League in 2023, the Spaniard switched to Nassr over the summer to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. A fee of £23.6 million makes the 29-year-old the league's most expensive defender. Getty Images -
Otavio (Al Nassr): The Portugal midfielder scored 31 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Porto after joining the team in 2014. He linked up with Riyadh-based club after Porto accepted a bid of around $65 million. AFP -
Merih Demiral: (Al Ahli): The imposing Turkey centre-back boasts Sporting of Lisbon and Juventus among his previous clubs and stood out in Serie A across two seasons at Atalanta. The 25-year-old joined Ahli on a three-year contract. Getty
