Brazilian and Liverpool versatile midfielder Fabinho has admitted that he “had some hope” and assumed that Sadio Mane would reject Bayern Munich’s offer and stay with the team for next season.
According to the Brazilian international, the Senegal’s captain departure is regrettable, but the top midfielder is certain that new additions will make up for it.
The Senegal international joined the German Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich after six great years with the Reds. According to Fabinho, the Lion of Teranga never intended to go, but it appears that he made up his mind towards the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Speaking during an interview with The Athletic, Fabinho said: “At the end of the season, I spoke a lot with Sadio. He told me about the situation that he could leave.” “I was always saying to him: ‘Come on Sadio, stay here. You can win the Premier League and the Champions League right here, don’t leave. But I think he had already made up his mind. We had to respect that.”
Fabinho added that Sadio Mane really created a good story for himself in the Liverpool shirt as he helped the team to remain on top for six years and he won every trophy available in club football but decided to face a new challenge which is a good choice.
Fabinho: “At the end of the season, I spoke a lot with Sadio [Mane].
— Anfield Edition (@AnfieldEdition) July 18, 2022
“I was always saying to him, ‘Come on Sadio, stay here. You can win the Premier League and the Champions League right here, don’t leave’.
“But I think he had already made his mind up. We had to respect that.” pic.twitter.com/HukahJUJrL
He revealed that the Liverpool team said goodbye to Sadio Mane after their last season’s trophy parade where they showed off their FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies.
According to the midfielder, the players knew there was a good chance for him to leave during the current summer transfer window but he always kept some hope that Mane would reject the move to Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old Brazilian believes that their new player Darwin Nunez from Benfica alongside Luis Díaz will fill the vacuum left by the Senegal star player. He acknowledged the fact that losing Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich is a big loss for the Liverpool team because he was one of their best players for the past six years but they can’t bring him back now that he’s gone.
Fabinho urged the Liverpool family to deal with the new development and allow the other players to step up and take responsibility.
According to him, Darwin Nunez who joined them this summer will need time to adapt to the English Premier League and Liverpool’s style of play. But a player like the 22-year-old can change a team because he’s a proper No.9.
