Liverpool formally said goodbye to Sadio Mane earlier Wednesday as the prolific attacker joined Bayern Munich on a three-year deal worth around £35 million. Mane had been an instrumental part of Jurgen Klopp's side which saw them win the Champions League in 2019 and a Premier League title the following year.
Mane's exit from Liverpool was handled with extreme class. He wanted a new challenge with a different club. Intentions were signalled before the end of the season. The transfer took place without any hullabaloo or rancour. He signed with Bayern today with a message for Liverpool supporters.
Reflecting on six special years 🤩
Liverpool legend Sadio Mane sat down with us for one last time to say goodbye, after completing his move to Bayern Munich.— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 22, 2022
You get the feeling Mane is cut differently to a lot of other world football stars.
Despite all of his brilliant play on the pitch, it's his actions off the pitch which show the type of person the Senegal international is.
Mane has donated millions to his hometown village of Bambali and its citizens since leaving the village at the age of 15 without even telling anyone.
Bambali is a fishing village on the banks of the Casamance river, situated over 7 hours from the capital city of Dakar. A village that has had to survive in the depths of poverty, with many women had to give birth in their own homes due to no hospital being in the region.
Sadio Mane playing in a charity match back in his hometown of Banbali in Senegal ❤️🇸🇳
(via sadiomane/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/WGqrvIOMC5— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 16, 2022
Sadio Mane and his charity work
This is where Sadio Mane's actions off the pitch become known and his amazing contributions to his hometown are nothing short of heroic.
When Mane's father died as he couldn't receive the necessary medical treatment needed due to no hospital being in Bambali, the former Liverpool man donated nearly $700,000 to build a new hospital.
Sadio Mane also donated $350,000 to build a new state of the art school and gifted each student with a laptop. He also built a new gas station, post office and donated sports gear to children across the community.
Mane even installed 4G internet across the village.
He reportedly provides each family in Bambali with a $75 monthly support package and gives more than $400 to each high achieving student at Bambali High School.
Speaking to Ghanian outlet nsemwoha.com back in 2019, Mane said:
"Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches, or two planes? What will these objects do for me and for the world? I was hungry, and I had to work in the field; I survived hard times, played football barefooted, I did not have an education and many other things, but today with what I earn thanks to football, I can help my people. I built schools, a stadium, we provide clothes, shoes, food for people who are in extreme poverty. In addition, I give 70 euros per month to all people in a very poor region of Senegal which contributes to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips and even planes. I prefer that my people receive a little of what life has given me."
With professional footballers around the world making absurd amounts of money, many people disagree and argue with the principles in doing this. Sadio Mane is an exception to this and the platform that he has given the people in his hometown to kick start their life with basic human resources just shows the type of person that Mane is.
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