Sadio Mane has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo backed his decision to leave Liverpool and sign for Bayern Munich after the pair bumped into each other on holiday.
Mane, 30, ended his six-year spell on Merseyside in July when he joined German giants Bayern in a £27.4million transfer deal. The move has left Liverpool weaker in attack, while it hasn't gone swimmingly for the injury-hit Senegal international either, having played just 25 minutes of football in the last four months, a period in which he agonisingly missed World Cup.
Nevertheless, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo reckons that it's the right fit. "I met Cristiano Ronaldo in Mallorca before this season after my move was completed," Mane revealed in an interview with German newspaper Bild. "He congratulated me and told me, 'A great club! This is a great step for you!'"
It's understood that Ronaldo, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, wanted to join Bayern last summer as he searched for an exit route out of Manchester United. "That says everything about the Bundesliga and underlines what I've already said: I think you underestimate the Bundesliga here," Mane added, talking up his new league. "The recent performances in the Champions League prove that."
The 30-year-old's decision to quit Liverpool was a difficult one, having been instrumental in the Reds' return to the top of world football under manager Jurgen Klopp. The Premier League heavyweights have sorely felt his absence, attempting to offset his departure by paying £68m for Darwin Nunez in the summer, before feeling the need to sign Cody Gakpo in January to further bolster Klopp's attack after a concerning first half of the season.
Results have only worsened since the turn of the year, but Mane insists that "Liverpool will be back." "I'm convinced they will overcome this situation," the Senegalese star vowed. "They had many injuries and tough tests, but Jurgen Klopp is definitely the right man. He will lead Liverpool back up, from this season - the players love him."
Have your say! Should Mane have left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich? Join the debate in the comments section.
After returning from injury on Sunday to help Bayern beat title rivals Union Berlin 3-0 on home soil, Mane is eager to help the Bavarians create more of the history which enticed him to sign for the club and work with boss Julian Nagelsmann. "Bayern won the Champions League 6 times, the club is one of the biggest in the world," the former Southampton and Red Bull Salzburg ace affirmed.
"This is a well-known fact, the history of the club is attractive - that was the case for me when I decided to move to Munich. I don't see any team bigger than Bayern or that is unbeatable
