“I can’t believe he’s leaving" - Pundit on Sadio Mane's reported departure

Pundit Dean Saunders can't believe Sadio Mane is set to depart Liverpool.

It has been reported that the winger will join Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of £35.1 million this summer.

With that being the case, Mane will finish his Liverpool career having scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for the club's first-team.

The Senegal international also won the Champions League, Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League title, League Cup and FA Cup with the Reds.

However, Saunders is quite surprised that Mane is leaving Anfield.

He told talkSPORT: “I can’t believe he’s leaving Liverpool, I don’t know how it’s got to this point. He’s 30, I think of all his time at the club, the last six months he’s played the best football, he’s been unstoppable at times.

“He went up the middle when (Luis) Diaz signed and he started getting better and better at finding the pockets and linking the play up. I can’t get my head round why you’d want to leave Liverpool right now, when you’re playing the best football of your life in the best combination front-three he’ll ever play in, to go and play for Bayern Munich.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

We can see where Saunders is coming from. The reality is, Liverpool competed for the quadruple last season.

Playing for Jurgen Klopp's Reds would be enjoyable. But, if Mane wants to try something new, then so be it.

The winger will be able to achieve plenty at Bayern Munich. They are a powerhouse of European football.

We are certainly not angry at Mane for wanting to leave Liverpool. He gave the club six years of superb service.

Without Mane, the Reds would not have returned to the top of English and European football.