Bayern Munich ‘SUSPEND’ Sadio Mane ‘until further notice’ for slapping teammate Leroy Sane – with ex-Liverpool star, who earns £17million a year, learns his fate today after returning to training
Bayern Munich has suspended Sadio Mane after his altercation with Leroy Sane in the dressing room on Tuesday, Germany reports.
Mane punched his team-mate in the face after his side’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad.
Although the Senegalese star was pictured at Bayern training this morning alongside Sane, his contract at the Allianz Arena could still be terminated by the Bundesliga giants, who are in the process of discussing an appropriate sanction.
German outlet BILD reports that Bayern has suspended the Senegal striker until further notice as they consider a final decision.
The news comes shortly after Sky Sports in Germany suggested Bayern’s verdict was likely to be ‘more than a fine’, meaning the former Liverpool star was at risk of temporary suspension or permanent dismissal.
Bayern Munich is considering fining, suspending or firing Sadio Mane
Mane punched Bayern Munich teammate Leroy Sane after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City
Sane and Mane were seen confronting each other as they trudged off the pitch at the Etihad Stadium and the argument boiled over as they went through the tunnel.
As the clash continued in the dressing room, Mané punched the German, leaving him with a bloodied lip, before the pair were dragged away from each other.
Sané hid his bloodied lip as he landed in Munich on Thursday morning, keen to hide any evidence of the altercation from the cameras.
Bayern’s stars are reportedly shocked by the incident and critical of the Senegal international for slapping Sane, who was one of Munich’s better players that night.
It is clear that the German champions are eager to set an example for Mane in what has been a turbulent season in the Bayern camp.
The Bayern Munich pair were spotted together during training on Thursday morning after the spat
As a result, the players do not expect Mane to stay at the club for long.
According to Imageboth Sane and Mane attended a meeting between the club’s bosses on Thursday morning.
The outlet has also previously valued the striker’s annual salary at around £17 million a year, which could prove a costly decision should Bayern decide to terminate his contract.
The cracked dressing room was divided ahead of Julian Nagelsmann’s sudden resignation last month and has continued early into Thomas Tuchel’s reign.
Nagelsmann’s departure could cost Bayern a total of £62 million as they must continue to pay his salary until he finds a new job. It also includes the fee they paid RB Leipzig to bring him in and the cost of firing his coaching staff.
With another possible sacking on the horizon, it could be a precious few months in Bavaria for Bayern’s leaders.
It appeared the German boss had quelled internal strife in his debut 4-2 victory over title rivals Borussia Dortmund, but a DFB-Pokal exit to Freiburg and a 3-0 hammer blow by City have fanned the flames ever since.
Bayern now face elimination from the Champions League after the heavy defeat in the first leg
Bayern fell behind with Rodri’s stunning first-half opener, before Bernardo Silva doubled City’s lead through a mistake by Dayot Upamecano.
Haaland added a third for the hosts to give Bayern a mountain to climb in the second leg at the Allianz Arena on April 19.
Mane was brought on in the 69th minute of the defeat, and the striker has had a mixed first season since joining from Liverpool for £35 million last summer.
The 31-year-old has scored 11 goals in his 32 appearances for the German giants.