Sadio Mane is closing in on a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
The Athletic reported earlier this month that the former Liverpool forward was in talks to join Al Nassr, who have already signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana and Alex Telles over the last year.
Bayern Munich have now released Mane, 31, from his duties with the rest of the team as he completes his move to the Middle East nation.
Mane had an indifferent season for Bayern, scoring only seven goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances. He also missed the World Cup in Qatar, as well as several Bayern games, due to a leg injury he sustained in November.
Mane was also suspended and fined by Bayern in April following an altercation with team-mate Leroy Sane. The Senegal captain featured for Bayern in their 27-0 win against amateur side FC Rottach-Egern earlier this week.
Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel was asked about Mane’s future and form ahead of their pre-season. He told SPORT1: “(Mane) fell short of expectations. The competitive situation is extremely high, the starting position is not easy for him. The player knows that too, he knows my opinion and the opinion of the club.”
Al Nassr were one of four Saudi Arabian clubs taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund last month, as well as Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Hilal. That investment has led to several stars of European football moving to the Gulf state, including Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves and N’Golo Kante.
(Photo: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
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