Punch to Sane's face - the end for Mane?

The media is saturated with reports of Mane's punch on Sane following Bayern's 0-3 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The question now is: How will Bayern Munich handle the Senegalese striker?

"The last straw"

Mane must be punished

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich is considering various punishments for Mane, including a fine, suspension, or even contract termination. Plettenberg believes that the team needs to take a strong stance with Mane to maintain discipline, as many players are heavily criticizing him and some reportedly do not want him to remain at the club.

Mane must be punished

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Currently, there is no support for Mane from anyone at Bayern, with teammates allegedly hoping for his dismissal or sale as soon as possible. Regardless of the outcome, Mane must come to terms with the fact that his actions have damaged his reputation, despite his previous successes as a 31-year-old striker.

The initial actions of Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich suffered a 0-3 defeat to Man City, prompting the German team to regroup and find a solution to turn the tide in the second leg. Unity among the players is more important than ever for the defending champions.

However, the incident in the dressing room where Sane punched Mane and caused him to bleed has disrupted the team's preparations. Coach Thomas Tuchel is now tasked with dealing with internal problems as it has been difficult for him to maintain harmony between Mane and Sane, even during training.

Mane punched Sane after the match between Man City and Bayern Munich

According to Bild, Mane and Sane were separated upon their return to Munich. Mane took a private car from the airport, while Sane shared the team bus. To date, no player has commented on the incident.

Bayern Munich sicked off Sadio Mane

The recent incident of Sadio Mane punching Leroy Sane has only increased the frustration of Bayern Munich's leadership with the Senegalese striker. According to Sport1 journalist Kerry Hau, both the coaching staff and club directors have been disillusioned with Mane's performance in recent times.

Bayern had high hopes for Mane when they signed him in the summer of 2022, expecting him to fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski. However, Mane's performances have been inconsistent and his lack of determination in training has been a concern.

Hau highlighted that Mane had lost his aggressiveness on the field and lacked speed and explosiveness, which were his trademark qualities during his time at Liverpool. The 31-year-old striker seems to have worn out physically due to playing an average of 50 games per season from 2018 to 2022.

Mane disappoints at Bayern Munich

Bayern is worried that Mane will not adjust his playing style to fit the club's tactics. Mane's ability to take advantage of opportunities has also been poor, resulting in only 11 goals and 5 assists in all competitions so far. He has been accused of lacking concentration when making moves without the ball, often leading to offside positions.

Mane is struggling to adapt to his new role at Bayern, where he is required to play as a second striker in the half-space, rather than as a pure winger. The left-wing belongs to Alphonso Davies, who is known for his speed and support in attack. Mane is uncomfortable in this new role, which has limited his ball control space, and he is struggling with his positioning resulting in 18 offside positions in 18 Bundesliga matches.

How will Mane's future be?

Mane is still a well-known star and a skilled player who could still make valuable contributions to a club. Therefore, if he were to be released by Bayern, he wouldn't be too worried about finding employment. However, the likelihood of him joining a top-tier team is quite low.

Liverpool may not be interested in bringing Mane back since Klopp already has Cody Gakpo and established left strikers like Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. Barca and Real have not shown much interest in recruiting the Senegalese striker either.

Chelsea and Arsenal already have players in Mane's position, while MU has several promising young players like Facundo Pellistri and Alejandro Garnacho. Although going to Italy could be a viable option, it would be a step back for the 31-year-old striker.

Mane will not chance to play for top-tier clubs

Mane's prime was with Liverpool, and his speed has gradually declined since joining Bayern, who realized that he lacks explosiveness. Additionally, Mane has a history of injuries, having dealt with ten different problems since 2017.

Moreover, the punch he threw at Sane tarnished Mane's reputation, making it less likely for teams to want such a violent player in their squad. Although Mane is a talented striker, he is not exceptional like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, exceeding expectations with his performance.

Therefore, a sad ending may be in store for Mane.

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