‘You need change’ – Watch Former Liverpool star makes honest Sadio Mane Bayern Munich transfer claim

‘You need change’ – Watch Former Liverpool star makes honest Sadio Mane Bayern Munich transfer claim

Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel admits to having experienced similar emotions and claims to be “quite convinced” he understands why Sadio Mane decided to leave successful Liverpool.

Mane, a Senegalese international, helped Liverpool win nearly every major trophy available during his six seasons at Anfield, including the Premier League championship and the Champions League. He scored 120 goals in 269 appearances during that time.

Liverpool’s Senegalese striker Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Super Cup 2019 football match between FC Liverpool and FC Chelsea at Besiktas Park Stadium in Istanbul on August 14, 2019. (Photo by Bulent Kilic / AFP) (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images)

But the AFCON winner’s decision to quit the Merseyside club and eventually agree to a transfer to German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in a £27.4 million deal that could grow to £35 million with add-ons startled supporters.

And according to ex-Red Skrtel, Mane’s decision to move on to greener pastures was motivated by the excitement of a new challenge.

Skrtel stated in a conversation with The Athletic:

“It is difficult to leave a club like Liverpool because if you are there, if you’re doing well like he was doing, and we can call him legend because of what he achieved in the club, it’s brilliant.

“But I think each player, at a certain stage of his career, has a feeling that you need to change. You need some maybe new motivation, a new challenge.

“After eight and a half years (with Liverpool), I also had that feeling like, ‘Oh, maybe I should change something’ to find a different kind of experience. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t an easy decision for him to leave the club.

“But he gave his maximum and did really well for the club, and now all you can do is wish him luck. If they (Bayern Munich) play in the future against Liverpool, I hope he won’t be at his best!”

Skrtel, a center back who has since retired from the professional game, played 320 times for the Reds and scored 18 goals during his time there.

In the 2013–14 season, he was a member of Brendan Rodgers’ squad that came agonizingly close to ending Liverpool’s lengthy wait for a top-flight league title. He scored seven goals that season, which was his best output for the team.

Skrtel won his lone major trophy while playing for the Reds in the 2012 League Cup final, scoring as the Reds defeated Cardiff City at Wembley on penalties.

In other news, “I remember having a Sadio mane shirt” – Watch Liverpool unveil Sadio Mane ‘heir’ as Jürgen Klopp has a major new option this season