Ronaldo backs Mane to leave Liverpool
Mane played for Metz, RB Salzburg, Southampton and then moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2016. At Anfield, the Senegalese striker scored 120 goals in 269 matches, helping the team win an English Premier League, an FA Cup, an English League Cup, a Champions League, a European Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup. He also became the Premier League's top scorer in the 2018-2019 season, along with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with 22 goals.
After the Champions League final loss to Real, Mane expressed his desire to leave Liverpool to find a new challenge. The Anfield owner did not hinder, but only agreed to sell the 30-year-old striker after recruiting Darwin Nunez from Benfica for a transfer fee of $ 107 million.
"I met Ronaldo in Mallorca during the pre-season break, when the transfer was completed," Mane told German newspaper BILD on March 1. "He congratulated me, said Bayern is a great club and this is a great step in my career."
Joining Bayern for a total of $ 40 million, Mane started quite well, scoring 11 and assisting four goals in 24 games in all competitions. The 30-year-old striker injured his knee ligaments in the 6-1 win over Bremen in the Bundesliga on November 8 and missed the 2022 World Cup. He has missed the last nine matches of Bayern, and reappeared in the last 25 minutes of the victory over Union Berlin 3-0 in the 22nd round of the Bundesliga on February 26.
According to the Senegal striker, the Bundesliga is not appreciated in front of the media, but he believes many Premier League stars will move to Germany to play in the near future. "The Bundesliga is very tight, well-balanced - which is reflected in the close distance between the top group. And the atmosphere in the pitches is fantastic. Why would anyone say no to the Bundesliga? That would do. I'm surprised," Mane added.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo ended 20 years of playing in Europe when he moved to Al Nassr under a contract until June 2025. The Portuguese forward has scored eight goals, provided two assists and been named Saudi Pro League player of the round twice. He is five goals behind the leader of the race, top scorer Anderson Talisca, when the tournament has 12 rounds left.
The 38-year-old striker currently holds the all-time scoring record, with 827 goals in 1,151 professional matches. Lionel Messi is second with 798 goals in 1,012 games.
