After just nearly one season at Bayern Munich, Sadio Mane's future looks in doubt after he punched Leroy Sané in the face in a dressing-room argument.
Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane has been hit with heavy punishment for allegedly punching teammate Leroy Sane after the club's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League.
The news has received mixed reactions from football fans around the globe, who have always perceived Mane as a 'nice and gentle' footballer.
What happened to the 'nice' Mane?
Sadio Mane, a Senegalese forward, joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool for £35.1 million in the summer of 2021. Mane was looking for a new challenge after six trophy-laden seasons at Anfield, where he scored 120 goals in 269 appearances and collected six major honours.
Mane's arrival at Bayern Munich was seen as a significant boost for the German champions. However, he has had a difficult season, struggling with both injuries and poor form in recent months. Just as the Senegal star is seeking to find his best form, his career is put in jeopardy after an unexpected incident.
The altercation between Mane and Leroy Sane reportedly began on the field during the latter stages of Bayern's Champions League quarter-final 0-3 defeat to Manchester City. According to GOAL, Mane was left angry with Sane after an exchange between the two players, and the altercation continued in the dressing room after the match.
It was during this altercation that Mane is said to have punched Sane, leaving him with a cut lip. Sportbible claims that the former Liverpool star had been unhappy with the manner in which Sane spoke to him and couldn't control his temper. Another reason, reports the Guardian, was was that Mane was grieving the death of a close family member.
Heavy punishments and gloomy future ahead
Bayern Munich confirmed on Thursday that Mane had been fined €500,000 and suspended for the team's upcoming match against Hoffenheim. The club also stated that they considered the matter to be closed. However, reports in Germany suggested that Sane had appealed to the club's board for leniency in the punishment of his teammate.
Despite the incident, Sane has reportedly made it clear that he is keen to move on from it and put it behind him. The former Manchester City forward is said to have held talks with Bayern CEO Oliver Khan and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic in which he underlined his desire to move past the incident.
For Mane, however, the fallout from the incident may have more significant long-term consequences. The Senegalese forward has struggled with both form and fitness this season, and there have been suggestions that he could be sold by the club once the transfer window opens. Bayern Munich has had a notoriety for getting rid of even its most excellent overachievers, such as Robert Lewandowski or Toni Kroos in the past.
Following the scandal, Bayern's manager Tuchel has supported the club’s action over suspending Mane for one match but insisted there would be no further punishment:
'That's settled. A game and a fine are the consequences of what happened. The way both players involved dealt with it, the way the other players dealt with it, it had a cleansing effect. We had a positive atmosphere yesterday and today.'
From Liverpool talisman to Bayern flop
Mane, who left Liverpool last summer to join Bayern Munich in a deal worth £35.1million, had a successful six-year spell at Anfield, where he scored 120 goals in 269 appearances and won six major honours. Liverpool's form has drastically declined this season after Mane's departure, with the club struggling to fill the void left by the experienced forward.
However, Mane has had a tough time at Bayern Munich, where he has struggled with both form and fitness, scoring just six goals in the Bundesliga this season. His struggles, along with the Sane incident, have led to speculation that he may leave the club after just one year.
In October, when Mane was experiencing a rough patch in form, ex-Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann expressed his satisfaction with the Senegalese forward's performance, saying:
'I'm happy with Sadio Mane's performance. The development of the past two weeks was good because of his position. He plays more on the wing where he played at Liverpool before.'
Despite Nagelsmann's praise, Mane has only started in one of new manager Tuchel's four matches in charge of Bayern Munich. Although he featured in the Bavarian club's Bundesliga win over Freiburg, he was not included in the German Cup exit, league win over Borussia Dortmund, or the Champions League loss to Manchester City, leaving the player frustrated.
Read more:
⋙ Villarreal player reports Fede Valverde to the police following post-match fight
⋙ We asked ChatGPT who will win the 2022/23 Premier League and this was the answer
⋙ Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic hit with huge ban for violence against referee
