Sadio Mane: Why Senegalese Forward Bought French Fourth Tier Club Bourges Foot 18

• Sadio Mane has disclosed his goals for Bourges Foot 18
• The Senegalese forward is the owner of the French club
• Mane visited the fourth-tier club for the first time last week

Sadio Mane has opened up on his ambitions after acquiring French Championnat National 2 side, Bourges Foot 18.

The Senegalese forward visited the club for the first time last week, having completed the takeover of the team in 2023.

The Al-Nassr star met the players, management and technical team as he shared his aspirations for the fourth-tier side.

Part of the ex-Liverpool's stars plans is to set up an Academy in Senegal, where players will be transferred directly to the French club.

“France and Senegal, you know the history, we were colonized by France," he said, as quoted by News Alain Francais.

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"It’s a close country. This is one of the reasons that pushed me to choose France. But I'm Senegalese, (links with the country), what's certain is that that's the idea. Have an academy in Senegal, train young people there, bring them to Bourges,” added the 31-year-old.

Mane is also hoping to lead the club to the top tier of French football in the coming years as he continues to pump in investment into the team.

Bourges Foot 18 sits sixth on the league table, eight points adrift of leaders Libourne, per US Soccerway.

The winner of the Championnat National 2 will qualify for the third tier before reaching Ligue 2 and ultimately Ligue 1.

He is expected to join the Senegalese team for the friendlies against Gabon and Benin this week.

Sadio Mane visits Bourges Foot

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Sadio Mane travelled to France to meet players and the management of Bourges Foot, a club he bought last year.

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The Senegalese forward, who plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr FC, watched his team for the first time in their league game against Avoine Olympique.

Having purchased the French fourth-tier club, Mane hopes to lead the team to the top tier in the coming years while also helping players from Senegal start their careers in Europe through Bourges Foot.