According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr has successfully reached an agreement with Bayern Munich to secure the signing of Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool superstar. Following advanced negotiations on Thursday (July 27), Bayern Munich accepted Al-Nassr’s offer to acquire the 31-year-old forward. Mane is now set to finalize the deal and undergo a medical examination before officially signing a contract with the Saudi Pro League giants.
Al-Nassr initiated Saudi Arabia’s spending spree in European football when they secured the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo on a free transfer in December. The Riyadh-based club offered the Portuguese icon a staggering €200 million per year, making him the highest-paid player globally, as an incentive to join Mrsool Park.
Ronaldo’s presence has had a significant impact on Al-Nassr’s reputation, attracting more high-profile players to the club during the current transfer window. They have successfully acquired Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana, and Alex Telles, spending approximately €50 million in total for these signings.
Should everything go according to plan, Sadio Mane will become Al-Nassr’s fourth major signing this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano’s update on Thursday (July 27), Luis Castro’s side is ready to offer Bayern Munich up to €37 million to secure the services of the former Liverpool superstar.
Last year, the forward made a €32 million move from Premier League giants Liverpool to Bayern Munich, with additional add-ons included. Unfortunately, the transfer did not go as anticipated, as he faced difficulties in making a significant impact. During the second half of the season, he managed to score only one goal and provide two assists in 11 Bundesliga matches.
Under the management of Thomas Tuchel, who took charge of Bayern in March, the former Southampton star received limited playing time, accumulating just 407 minutes on the field. It became evident that the forward was not part of the manager’s plans, prompting Al-Nassr to initiate talks for his transfer earlier this month.
Where Will Sadio Mane Fit in Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr?
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 38, is expected to take on the role of the leading striker for Al-Nassr in the upcoming season. Notably, the Riyadh-based club also has Anderson Talisca and Abdulrahman Ghareeb as attacking options in their squad. The challenge now lies in determining how Sadio Mane will fit into the equation at Mrsool Park.
Coach Luis Castro might employ a 4-2-3-1 formation to accommodate all four players effectively (as reported by Transfermarkt). Talisca is well-suited to operate as a playmaker behind Cristiano Ronaldo, while Mane and Ghareeb could take up the positions on the left and right wings, respectively.
With the addition of Seko Fofana and Marcelo Brozovic in midfield, Al-Nassr looks set to be a formidable force in the Saudi Pro League next season. The defensive line could also be strengthened with the potential signing of Alex Telles, and there are aspirations to bring in former Manchester United teammate Eric Bailly, as expressed by Al-Aalami (according to Romano’s reports).
