Bayern Munich CEO hints to Sadio Mane transfer blunder following unprecedented penalties
Hasan Salihamidzic, director of Bayern Munich, believes the club made a mistake by not buying a straight replacement for Robert Lewandowski after the striker joined Barcelona.
Hasan Salihamidzic, sporting director at Bayern Munich, has admitted that the club's choice not to buy a comparable replacement for Robert Lewandowski backfired.
Following months of speculation, Bayern Munich parted ways with their goalscoring talisman in the summer, as Lewandowski completed a dream move to Barcelona.
Although Bayern were reluctant to lose the Poland star, who had spent a record-breaking eight years in Munich, the shrewd signing of Sadio Mane from Liverpool just a few weeks earlier softened the blow of losing Lewandowski, especially since Mane has previously demonstrated his ability to play as a central striker.
Mane, on the other hand, has struggled to live up to expectations at the Allianz Arena, scoring just six league goals, and he was suspended by the club last week after an altercation with Leroy Sane. The ex-Liverpool player is accused of punching his teammate in the face after their 3-0 Champions League loss to Manchester City.
Mane rejoined the squad in midweek, shortly after Bayern's European departure was announced. After watching his team blow multiple chances to win the tie in the second leg of their quarter-final match, Salihamidzic remarked that Bayern lacked a cutting edge.
"With Sadio Mane, we have signed a new player who can also play as the No.9," he told reporters, according to Sport 1. "Of course, you can be the wise one and say, 'That's not the case.'" Top players include Serge, King, Leroy, Sadio, Tel, Choupo, Thomas, and Jamal."
Following his confrontation with Sane, Mane was struck with the largest fine in Bayern history: the €350,000 fine that the versatile forward will have to pay significantly exceeds the €50,000 fine that Franck Ribery had to pay when he was involved in an argument with Arjen Robben back in 2012.
As a result of the incident, the striker was also suspended for last weekend's Bundesliga encounter against Hoffenheim, but new Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel backed him.
"It was a serious incident, and it was critical that it was cleared before the next training session," the German explained. Sadio is a superb professional that I've known for many years. He's never been in a scenario like that before. He is focused on football, and he has my complete trust. Everyone has the right to make an error.
"This was excessive - he apologized, and I believe him." It was critical that he stay in training, but he has been suspended and will be fined. I'm not sure where the money will go; it will be decided by the club and the player. It is not my top priority.
"It would be nice if what happened in the locker room stayed in the locker room." We don't need scenarios like that to demonstrate that our squad is still alive. Such behavior is not tolerated."
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