Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane has finally broken his silence on his infamous physical altercation with teammate Leroy Sane last season.
The ex-Liverpool forward was caught in a physical bust-up with the former Manchester City star after the Bavarians’ 3-0 loss to the Cityzens in April.
The heated argument escalated in the dressing room following a brief verbal quarrel on the pitch, resulting in Mane punching his Bayern comrade in the face.
The Senegalese star’s anti-social behaviour earned him a one-game suspension from the club, followed by a £250,000 fine – the most expensive punishment in the club’s history.
It took the 31-year-old two months to wrap his head around the incident before going public to deliver his verdict of the notorious locker-room scenes.
“This kind of things can happen,” Mane told reporters in his homeland, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “It happened. We were able to solve this small problem.
“Sometimes it’s good to solve problems, but maybe not in this way. It’s behind us now. We’ll try to fight together to help the club achieve its goals next season.”
He also looked back on his underwhelming maiden season in the Bundesliga.
Mane teamed up with Bayern with high expectations last summer following his trophy-laden spell at Liverpool.
But it wasn’t the season he’d remember, having managed just 11 goals from 37 appearances in all competitions.
“I’m on vacation with the family,” he added. “It was a very complicated season, it happens. It wasn’t a surprise – I expected things to be a bit complicated. It’s normal.
“I love challenges, and Bayern is a big challenge. It’s up to me to do everything to meet this challenge.”
Based on his statement, Mane is confident of staying at the Allianz Arena, which contrasts recent talks linking him with a summer departure.
Despite paying Liverpool top dollar to sign the versatile forward, the Bavarians have reportedly placed the ex-Southampton man on a chopping block alongside six other first-team players.
