Mane ruthlessly taunts ex-Liverpool team-mate Firmino mid-Saudi game
Sadio Mane celebrated an Al Nassr goal by jumping on Roberto Firmino’s back during their 4-3 win over the Brazilian’s new club Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday. The pair built up quite the partnership during their time together at Liverpool but that didn’t stop the Senegalese star from poking fun at his old team-mate.
Two goals each from Cristiano Ronaldo and former Benfica striker Talisca were enough to see off Firmino’s Al Ahli despite Franck Kessie, Riyad Mahrez and Firas Al-Buraikan getting on the scoresheet for the visitors. Midway through the match after Talisca extended Al Nassr’s lead to 3-1, Mane ruthlessly taunted his former team-mate turned foe by leaping on his back.
Firmino didn’t seem pleased by Mane’s reaction and quickly scurried away after turning to see it was his old pal. The defeat meant Al Nassr leap-frogged Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on goal difference.
Both clubs are owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also holds an 80 per cent share of Newcastle United. Firmino and Mane were among the leading Saudi sides’ biggest transfers this summer in a window dominated by staggering sums of money.
Al Nassr snapped up Mane in August for £24m from Bayern Munich on a four-year deal worth around £136m (£650,000 a week). Mane had struggled to replicate the same form that he enjoyed at Anfield during his time with the Bavarian giants.
Shortly after arriving in Germany, he suffered an injury to his right fibula that kept him out of action for almost four months. When he eventually returned to the fold he landed himself in hot water with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel for allegedly punching Leroy Sane in the dressing room following a 3–0 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Manchester City. He was fined and suspended for his actions.
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Firmino, meanwhile, joined Al Nassr on a free transfer after his contract with Liverpool expired in June. The Brazilian superstar signed on with the Saudi First Division champions (Saudi Arabia’s second tier) until 2026.
He will reportedly pocket £17m a year (£326,000 a week), making him only the tenth highest-paid player in the league. Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list ahead of Karim Benzema and Neymar with a staggering £173m a year (£3.3m a week). To put things into perspective, that is £326 a minute.
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