Having recently switched Anfield for the Allianz Arena, one of Bayern Munich's top brass has explained why he believes Sadio Mane signed for the Bavarian giants.
As the 2021/22 season ended, Robert Lewandowski made it known to the Bayern board that he no longer wanted to play for Die Roten, and that it would be in the best interests of everybody involved that they find an adequate solution to the problem.
Not keen on losing a forward who had just netted 50 goals across all competitions for them, the Bundesliga champions made sure to scour the market for somebody who would bring similar world-class talent to Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Thankfully for them, Mane had become available, and according to Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, the Senegalese was just as eager to make his way to Germany.
"Somebody like Sadio [Mane] looks at clubs and thinks, 'I have had six amazing years at Liverpool, what's next?' He will choose his next move carefully," the 45-year-old executive told The Times.
"I know why he chose us, he said so; because he feels that there's so much quality and mentality, with him being a leader in that respect who fits right in.
"It was obvious that Lewy was thinking about a move, but without having top replacements available, we wouldn't have agreed [to let him go].
"But we had many options, we tried to make one happen, and that allowed us to let him go. The fact that it was Sadio... it couldn't have worked out any better for us."
Bayern Boss Reacts To Mane Concerns
Like Lewandowski, Mane made it known after the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final that he would not be extending his contract with Liverpool, and as a result, secured a pay rise to ply his trade in the Bundesliga.
According to Capology, the 30-year-old attacker is the highest-paid player in the German top flight, earning an astonishing €423 077 (R7.3 million) a week in gross wages.
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