Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has defended Sadio Mane after the winger’s poor start to life in the Bundesliga, with the former Liverpool superstar struggling to find form for the German giants.
Speaking to Sport Bild via Sky Germany, the Bayern official admitted that the club are being patient with Mane with the Senegalese international yet to hit the form that made the attacker one of the best forwards in world football. The 30-year-old has only managed five goals in 11 appearances for Julian Nagelsmann’s side this season.
Mane joined Bayern early last summer for a reported £35m according to BBC Sport, and whilst the winger’s goal return has been impressive, the attacker has often been criticised by supporters for his lack of big-game performances for the club and for not stepping up to the plate.
Indeed, Mane joined Bayern with some big expectations, and whilst the attacker will no doubt find his feet soon, Salihamidzic has defended the winger’s poor form in recent weeks for the Munich-based side, with the sporting director confident that the forward will soon be on top of his game.
Salihamidzic said: “Sadio still needs a little time, he has to get used to it, including the Bundesliga, but he will. Mane knows what it’s like to arrive as a newcomer to a team, in a different country, in a different city and in a slightly different football culture.”
The Bayern sporting director added: “I speak to him regularly but I also give him space. He now has to organise himself in such a way that he feels at home in Munich. “Sadio is one of the best players in the world. He’ll bring very good performances. We’ll still have a lot of joy with him.”
Salihamidzic right to predict that Mane will hit form with Bayern Munich
Mane’s start to life with Bayern might have been mixed, but there’s no denying that Salihamidzic is right to say that the winger will soon be back to his best. And the Bundesliga could be in for a scare when the former Liverpool attacker finally gets his groove back in the German top-flight.
After all, Mane was one of the Premier League’s scariest attackers for the good part of five years with the Reds, and if the forward can match even half of the form he replicated with Liverpool at Bayern, the Bavarian giants will easily have one of the best attackers in Europe on their side.
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