Bayern refute 'baseless' suggestions that they got rid of Mane because he's African

The former Liverpool star made a high-profile switch to Saudi Arabia this summer just one year after signing for Bayern Munich.

Mane put pen to paper on a jaw-dropping £650,000-a-week contract at Al Nassr, where he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

It put an end to a year of hell for the Senegal international, who signed for Bayern from Liverpool where he made an annual salary of £17.3million.

But Mane's PR manager, Bacary Cisse, has insisted that the German giants forced him out - because he was paid too much for an African.

"It wasn't a footballing decision (to sell him)," he told After Foot RMC.

"Sadio's salary bothered the Germans, they didn't understand how an African joins the club and becomes the top earner ahead of everyone, so they wanted to get rid of him.

"They never called the player's representatives, they never told Sadio face-to-face that they wanted to get rid of him.

"They just sent [Thomas] Tuchel to tell him that he will be a third choice left winger.

"Sadio has nothing to prove to the Germans. He didn't become what he's become thanks to Bayern.

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"It was thanks to Liverpool. Bayern were ungrateful. They were paying an African all this money, and that hurt them.

"He was professional until the end. But the people in charge at Bayern weren't fair.

"They first leaked to the media they were ready to sell him for €20m (£17.3m).

"But after he returned to training and they saw he was doing well, they raised the price to €30m (£25.9m).

"Sadio didn't steal his money. From the first meeting with Bayern, he gave them his word that he would join, without talking about the salary. His representatives negotiated that salary for him."

Bayern have since responded and dismissed the suggestions made by Cisse.

It read: "We have terminated our contract with Sadio Mane by mutual agreement.

"Accusations of racism, as formulated by Sadio's entourage, are and have been baseless from the start. Our coach Thomas Tuchel never told Sadio he couldn't use him anymore.

"FC Bayern appreciated Sadio Mane as a man and as a player. Unfortunately, our common objectives, which we had set ourselves before his signature, have not been achieved. We wish Sadio all the best and success at his new club."

Mane was dogged with injury during his time at Bayern, where one just before the World Cup in Qatar seemed to be the turning point.

After missing the tournament with Senegal, the forward returned to action in February but scored just once in all competitions until the end of the season.

There were also reports of a falling out with Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked as Bayern boss in April, as well as a dressing room punch-up with teammate Leroy Sane which appear to have contributed towards his exit.

"Leaving FC Bayern hurts me," Mane said about his exit last week.

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"I would have wished for a different ending. I know that I could have helped the team this season.

"I wanted to prove it to everyone this season. Nevertheless, I only wish the club and the fans the best for the future."