Leroy Sane asked Bayern Munich chiefs not to punish Sadio Mane too harshly for their bust-up after the Manchester City game.
Mane, 31, has been dropped and fined by the Bavarian club for allegedly hitting Sane following their 3-0 loss at the Etihad on Tuesday. The former Liverpool forward will not feature in Bayern's Bundesliga game against Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena this Saturday.
It's claimed former Man City winger Sane wants to consign the incident to the annals of history and get on with Bayern's campaign. Thomas Tuchel's side are aiming to retain their Bundesliga title and currently sit two points clear of Dortmund in second.
As reported by German outlet SPORT1, Sane discussed the incident with Bayern's hierarchy. The Germany international is said to have asked them not to impose a harsh punishment on Mane to avoid the row dragging on for any longer than necessary.
It's believed Bayern's CEO Oliver Khan and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic want to see a reaction from Mane, who could be shown the door if he doesn't have a strong end to the season. The Senegalese star has struggled to find his best form in Germany.
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Mane has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Bayern since his transfer from Liverpool last summer, with a leg injury hampering his progress and forcing him to miss the World Cup in Qatar. Yet the forward does not have long to silence his critics.
Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane were back in training on Thursday (Sven Hoppe/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Do you think Bayern Munich were right to punish Sadio Mane? Let us know in the comments below!
Bayern will have just six Bundesliga games remaining this season after Saturday's match with Hoffenheim. They are already out of the DFB-Pokal after surprise home defeat to Freiburg, while their Champions League hopes are slim after Tuesday's debacle.
Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland mean Man City will take a commanding lead to the Allianz Arena this Wednesday. The argument between Sane and Mane started shortly after the latter replaced Jamal Musiala in the 69th minute.
Sane and Mane started rowing following a breakdown in communication between the pair. It's believed the debate continued into the dressing room, where Mane allegedly hit Sane in the face. Mane was reportedly unhappy with the way Sane spoke to him.
Bayern broke their silence on the matter by releasing a statement on Thursday. It read, "Sadio Mane, 31, will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturday's home match against 1899 Hoffenheim. This is due to his misconduct after Bayern's Champions League match at Manchester City. Mane will also be given a fine."
As revealed by Mirror Football, Mane was grieving the death of a close family member, his aunt, when Tuesday's incident unfolded.
Sane, who was named as the Professional Footballers' Association's Young Player of the Year during his time at Man City, will also be looking to end the season strongly. He's scored 37 goals in 125 games since leaving Manchester for Munich in July 2020.
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