adminWITH Liverpool star Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich seemingly a done deal, he is set to become the highest-earning African footballer.
Since the conclusion of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final, reports have been circulating non-stop about Mane’s desire to end his six-year stint at Anfield.
Yesterday, he arrived in Munich for the medical and conclusion of the deal.
The latest reports in Europe suggest that Mane is set to become Bayern’s newest player as the Senegalese looks for a new challenge, with sporting director of the Bundesliga champions Hasan Salihamidzic recently appearing to confirm the forward is on his way.
It seems the winger will be compensated handsomely by the Bavarians.
According to Africa Facts Zone, over the duration of Mane’s three-year deal with Die Roten, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner will be getting paid £250 000 (R4.9 million) a week.
That is more than double what the 30-year-old was earning at Liverpool.
In fact, that figure makes Mane the highest-paid African in football.
The highest-paid Zimbabwean footballer is Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba.
He is reported to earn a base figure of about £1 768 000 a year.
Behind Mane is his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.
As per Africa Facts Zone, the Egyptian is Liverpool’s joint-highest-paid player with wages of £220 000 (R4.3 million) a week, alongside Thiago and Virgil van Dijk.
But, it is understood the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot winner wants a much more lucrative deal with the Merseyside club as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract.
Reports suggest that, given his goal-scoring prowess since his arrival at Anfield, the Pharaohs talisman feels he should be paid like one of the best players in the world, with £400 000 (R7.8 million) a week being the figure the former AS Roma forward is said to believe he deserves.
That is why he is yet to sign an extension with the six-time European champions.
Most of the largest contracts given to African footballers have been issued to West Africans. One of them is Ghana star Thomas Partey, who is third, alongside Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, among the highest-paid Africans in football, as per Africa Facts Zone.
The central midfielder has been a vital cog for his country over the past few years, and it was his goal that ensured the four-time African champions qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they drew against Nigeria in the play-offs.
The 29-year-old has also been a crucial player for his club side Arsenal, but injuries have curtailed him from perhaps reaching his full potential with the team to date.
The North Londoners reportedly pay Partey £200 000 (R3.9 million) a week.
TOP AFRICAN EARNERS (PER WEEK)
1 – Sadio Mane – £250 000
2 – Mo Salah – £220 000
3 – Thomas Partey – £200 000
3 – Riyad Mahrez – £200 000
5 – Andre Ayew – Partey £180 000
6 – Ashraf Hakimi – Partey £176 000
7 – Nicola Pepe – £140 000
8 – Wilfred Zaha – £130 000
9 – Naby Keita – £120 000 – Sports Reporter/Laduma
Online Reporter