With Sadio Mane seemingly struggling at Bayern Munich of late, a former Liverpool and Senegal star has now claimed that the 2022 African Footballer of the Year did not get the love he needed from his previous boss Jurgen Klopp.
The 30-year-old got off to a good start in Germany, scoring four goals in his first four matches for his new club.
Read: Germany star: England didn't really want to play
However, having now played 11 games for the Bavarians, the forward has managed to add only one further goal to his tally across all competitions.
There have been a few suggestions, as a result, that Mane, who left Liverpool in search of a new challenge, is not happy at the Allianz Arena following his £35 million (R680 million) transfer during the off-season.
Whether this is true or not remains to be seen, but one of Senegal's 2022 FIFA World Cup heroes has now suggested that there was perhaps more to the striker's exit from the Premier League.
Although the Lions of Teranga talisman has never hinted at his departure from Anfield being down to him being unhappy or feeling unappreciated on Merseyside, his countryman and ex-Reds defensive midfielder Salif Diao has now claimed that Reds manager Klopp did not appreciate Mane as the marksman would have wanted.
"I think he has been here for a couple of years and I think, at some point, he thought he did not have the love that he needed, really, here at Anfield," Diao told the Liverpool Echo.
"I'm not talking about the fans, for him I think it was more with the manager."Things weren't really going on as they should be so that's why he decided to go for a new challenge.
Read: Ex-Man Utd star buys a team in Africa
"I think as a top player, every time you stay four to five years at a top club, sometimes it's good to go for a new challenge."
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