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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

John Barnes sends blunt Sadio Mane Liverpool message as Gini Wijnaldum transfer comparison made

Former Liverpool star John Barnes says Sadio Mane's commitment cannot be faulted as he's set to complete his move to Bayern Munich this week.

The Senegalese is in Germany undergoing his medical and is reportedly set to formally be unveiled by the Bundesliga Champions on Wednesday. He joins them for an initial £27.4m with a further possible £7.7m in add-ons.

Mane has spent six years at Anfield having joined from Southampton in 2016. He's won everything he possibly could with the club, including the Premier League and Champions League.

READ MORE: Loris Karius breaks silence on Liverpool exit with 'crazy' Sadio Mane claim

READ MORE: Sadio Mane Liverpool's exit moves closer as forward arrives in Germany for Bayern Munich medical

Barnes, who made over 400 appearances for Liverpool between 1987 and 1997, says there can be no complaints about 30-year-old moving on given what he's achieved.

"This is modern football - players come and go," he told Sky Sports. "The only thing clubs can demand from their players is that they give 100 per cent commitment while they're on their books and that's what Sadio Mane did.

"It was the same with Gini Wijnaldum last summer. It's sad to see him going, but Mane decided he needed a new challenge. Financially, it's a better move for him also but you can't complain about what he's done as while he was here he was absolutely fantastic.

"It'll be disappointing to see him leave as the club did all they could to keep him but they couldn't be held to ransom over paying him what he wanted. Liverpool have already brought in Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, so what bringing in Darwin Nunez should change is it will give Liverpool more a threat within the penalty box."

Mane scored 120 goals and registered 48 assists in his 269 appearances for the Reds. He's currently the club's 14th top goalscorer of all time.

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