Saunders and Owen 'still baffled' why Mane has ditched Liverpool for Bayern Munich

The Senegalese forward sealed a £35million switch to the German champions on Wednesday after a stunning six years at Anfield, talkSPORT pundit Saunders has again been vocal about Mane's career choice.

Saunders caused a stir on social media over his comments throughout the negotiations of Mane's transfer to Germany.

Perhaps reflecting the hopes of all Liverpool fans hoping it wouldn't happen, the Welshman repeatedly said he didn't understand why the 30-year-old would want to leave Anfield for the German giants.

He also raised eyebrows with German supporters for his claims that the forward would 'coast' at Bayern and would be 'wasting the best two years of his career' by moving to the Bundesliga.

Saunders has had some time to process Mane's exit, with the new Bayern star even saying the decision was not a difficult one, despite his love for Liverpool

But the former Reds ace still doesn't get it, with Saunders telling the talkSPORT Breakfast show: "I'm still baffled why he's gone.

"Why would you leave Liverpool when everybody loves you, the manager loves you, your teammates love you?

"You're playing in the best front-three you're ever going to play in, in your life. You're never gonna go to a better team than he's in right now.

"It can't be money because he sends half of his money back home to build villages for people; he does so much good behind the scenes.

"Maybe they've not offered him enough money? I don't think it's money but maybe, it's the only thing I can think of.

"I can't believe he's gone!"

It's not the first time Saunders has weighed in on the debate as the Welshman ruffled a few feathers with his comments about Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga last weekend.

"Nothing against the club, it's a great club, but the league is nowhere near a challenge for Mane," he said on the Weekend Sports Breakfast.

"He'll get goals. They win 5-0 every week, only one team can win the league.

"It's not a challenge. He will get in his armchair, light a cigar up, he'll play for Bayern in third gear and he'll coast for two years and ruin the best two years of his life as a footballer.

"At the end of his career, if he said to you 'come and look at my trophy cabinet', the German league winners medal will be right at the back."

Saunders' views were echoed by another former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who took to Twitter to share his amazement at Mane's departure.

He tweeted: "I'm still struggling to understand why Sadio Mane would leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich.

"But he's been an outstanding player, given great service and will go down as a club legend."

Typically, Owen was met with a barrage of replies with many pointing to his Anfield exit in 2004 when he joined Real Madrid, before later ending up at Liverpool's bitter rivals Manchester United.

The Mane chapter may be over on Merseyside but Liverpool fans will still be optimistic about their chances next season following the January arrival of Colombian Luis Diaz and the recent capture of Uruguay sensation Darwin Nunez.