Sadio Mane: Joshua Kimmich Reveals Why Senegal Forward Flopped in Bundesliga

• Joshua Kimmich has defended Sadio Mane after he struggled in his only season with Bayern Munich
• Mane is set to bring his disappointing one-year stay at Bayern to an end this summer
• The Senegal forward is close to joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi club Al Nassr

Bayern Munich defender Joshua Kimmich has revealed that Sadio Mane’s struggles in his first and only season in the Bundesliga were not the Senegal forward’s fault.

Mane has been heavily criticised in the media after he failed to have the impact he had at Liverpool with the Bundesliga giants after his highly publicised transfer from the Reds last summer.

According to Goal, Kimmich has now come to Mane’s defence, insisting the Senegal forward had to battle too many obstacles, which must have contributed to his low impact at Bayern.

"He played a very good first half of the season last season and delivered good statistics. He wasn't solely to blame for the fact that things didn't work for us anymore. The big picture wasn't right for us anymore.

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"Then you're a new player abroad - with a new language, new culture and people. When you come as a top star and have to listen to a lot of criticism - some rightly, some wrongly - I can imagine that it's not easy."

Mane scored just 12 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich, making only 28 appearances all season for the Bundesliga club as he battled with injuries and loss of form.

Mane to cost Liverpool millions

Meanwhile, Liverpool are set to lose a whopping £7.5m when Sadio Mane completes his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Sport Bible reports.

The deal between Liverpool and Bayern Munich for Sadio Mane was initially £27.5m, with a further £5m based on appearances and £2.5m in add-ons based on individual and team achievements.

The Reds will now receive less than the £35 million agreed upon with Bayern when Mane seals his move to the Middle East after a troubled campaign with the Bavarians.

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Bayern accepts Al Nassr’s Mane bid

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Sadio Mane is just a medical away from joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr after Bayern Munich accepted a verbal proposal for the Senegalese forward.

Al Nassr has been in intense negotiations with the Bundesliga champions for Mane, who struggled to adapt to the Bundesliga after his switch from Liverpool last summer.

The Saudi Pro League club had offered Bayern £32million for Mane as they appeared confident they could get a deal for the former Liverpool forward over the line before the end of the week.