It has been a year since Sadio Mane signed for Bayern Munich from Liverpool for a fee up to £35m as the Senegalese attacker ended a five-year stay at Anfield.
The 31-year-old encapsulated one of the most successful periods in the club's history as they added the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup to their honours board.
Mane was one of the key figures of the attacking trio that featured Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, the Reds strikeforce became one of the most feared partnerships across Europe as they reached three European Cup finals.
Like many players to depart L4, sometimes the grass isn't always green as the former Southampton forward suffered a tough debut campaign in Germany.
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The loss of Mane was speculated to have had an impact on Liverpool's form as they struggled throughout the early part of the season. After chasing the quadruple, the Reds struggled to maintain the heights that they had previously set as they quickly fell off the leaders with Arsenal setting the pace.
As he did for the Reds against Arsenal in 2015, it was a goalscoring start for the Senegal forward as he netted on his Bundesliga debut during a 6-1 rout for then-manager Julian Nagelsmann as they brushed past Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening day. He needed just 30 minutes to open his account for the German giants as he nodded home past Kevin Trapp.
He was continuing the blistering form he showed for Liverpool in his final season as netted a brace in just his third game as they fired seven past Bochum.
He went on to add three goals and as many assists in his next 12 games before his progress was curtailed. After just 15 minutes of their encounter with Werder Bremen, he seemingly innocuously went down with a leg injury but the problem proved to end his World Cup dream which would require surgery.
There was a hope that Mane would be fit to help Aliou Cisse's side upset some of the global giants as he was included in the provisional squad. However, he was forced to drop out after failing to recover from the fibula injury.
After sustaining the injury in November, he only returned to action in February after suffering the injury in Bayern's penultimate game before the winter break.
His return came against Union Berlin but his league form suffered dramatically by comparison to the early signs. He netted just once in the remaining half of the season adding two assists.
In light of their Champions League first-leg defeat to Manchester City, Mane hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. Following their disappointing showing in Manchester, it had emerged that the 31-year-old had been involved in a bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane.
It was reported that he had punched the German in the face which left the former Citizen with a swollen lip with the news dominating the conversation ahead of their encounter with TSG Hoffenheim. Mane was suspended for his part in the fall-out where he was forced to apologise to his teammates.
Bayern Munich were ultimately dumped out of the Champions League by the eventual winners and since the encounter came to light, question marks have remained over his future at the Allianz Arena.
He managed just five starts in their remaining 12 Bundesliga fixtures as Tuchel managed to drag them over the line pipping Borussia Dortmund to the title as their dominance continued.
While there was cause for celebration, it would've been bittersweet for Mane who managed nine minutes in the previous two fixtures before being an unused substitute for their dramatic final day win over FC Koln that clinched yet another German crown.
There has been conflicting reports over the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain with outlets claiming that his days with the German giants are numbered. Meanwhile, some have claimed that he is determined to stay at the club.
The uncertainty has been pounced upon by the transfer rumour mill with murmurs that he could return to the Premier League with Newcastle United, Chelsea, Manchester United and even a switch to Anfield.
"When my agent first told me about Bayern's interest, I was immediately excited," Mane told BILD last June. "I saw myself there right away. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world and the team is always fighting for every title. So for me it was a very good idea and the right decision to come here.
"My agent told me that there were enquiries from other clubs. That's part of the business. But I got the feeling right away when Bayern presented their plan to me. I found myself in Bayern's plan more than anyone else."
It remains to be seen whether that plan is in place for Mane in Bavaria remains after an action-filled 12 months in Germany. He will forever be remembered as a Liverpool icon but reflecting on his time with the German giants is difficult to see.
