Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold admits Jurgen Klopp’s side miss Sadio Mane after his transfer to Bayern Munich. The Reds sold the Senegal star to Der FCB back in June 2022.
Mane moved to the Allianz Arena on a three-year contract after six seasons at Anfield. The 30-year-old had headed to Merseyside from Southampton in June 2016 for £34m. He went on to amass 120 goals and 48 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions with Liverpool.
But the Reds had allowed Mane to enter the last year of his contract at Anfield. So, they let the 92-cap dynamo move to Bavaria for an initial £27.5m, rising to £35m with add-ons. Der FCB will owe the Premier League team £5m via appearances and £2.5m via performances.
Mane quickly settled into a key role in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad at the record Bundesliga champions. He has registered 11 goals and four assists through 23 appearances across all competitions so far this season. His haul includes three goals in six Champions League ties.
The forward also helped Bayern Munich top Group C with six wins from six games. Der FCB also top the Bundesliga standings by four points ahead of facing third-placed RB Leipzig on Friday week. It is the Bavarian powerhouse’s maiden top-flight fixture since the World Cup.
MANE WAS A LEADING LIGHT AT LIVERPOOL BEFORE LEAVING FOR BAYERN MUNICH IN 2022
Mane could not feature at the World Cup with Senegal after suffering a leg injury in Bayern Munich’s penultimate Bundesliga game before Qatar 2022. The Lions of Teranga would fall to England 3-0 in the last 16. Mane had helped Senegal win their first AFCON title in 2022.
Liverpool won the 2018/19 Champions League, 2019/20 Premier League, 2021/22 EFL Cup and 2021/22 FA Cup through Mane’s career at Anfield. The forward was also the joint-top goalscorer in the English top-flight during the 2018/19 season with 22 goals in 36 games.
Mane struck at least 10 goals during all six of his Premier League campaigns with Liverpool. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are currently Klopp’s top scorers in the top-flight this term with seven goals. The Reds are next in action on Saturday at Brighton & Hove Albion.
ALEXANDER-ARNOLD STILL MISSES THE SENEGAL STAR SINCE HE SWITCHED TO BAVARIA
Alexander-Arnold has reflected on Mane’s time at Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ trip to the south coast. He believes Klopp’s squad still miss what the Senegal sensation offered them. But the right-back believes the Reds have players who can bring fresh ideas to their squad.
“Sadio is a world-class player and has been for many years,” Alexander-Arnold has told Sky Sports. “He’s someone who will help any team he’s at and do the things he does to a level that others can’t. So, of course, we are going to miss what he brings to the team.
“But we’ve got other players with different qualities, who bring different things to our game [and] who will help us in what we need to do.”
Source: hitc.com
