Sadio Mane returns to muddy village pitch in Senegal for football match with former Liverpool and Newcastle stars, as imminent move to Bayern Munich beckons

Sadio Mane put speculation over his future to one side as he returned to his childhood village in Senegal for a local football match. Played in the village of Bambaly, a place where the Liverpool star says ‘it all began’ for him, Mane joined friends and a number of fellow footballers on the muddy pitch he grew up playing on.

Mane competed alongside a number of friends from the area, as well as his ‘idol’ former Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf, former Newcastle ace Papiss Cisse, international team-mate Mbaye Diagne and Beninese star Desire Segbe.

Sharing a photo and a video to his official Instagram account, Mane’s translated post said: “Back to the source with a gala match on the Bambaly pitch where it all started!!!

“A big thank you to my brothers @papissdembacisse @mbayediagne909 @desire.segbe and without forgetting my lifelong idol, sacred @elhadji_diouf11_officiel.”

While Mane was playing alongside some high-profile figures back in Senegal, the chances are that he’ll be playing on a much bigger stage next season. The Liverpool forward continues to be the subject of intense speculation regarding a move to Bayern Munich.

The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield and, with the German champions deadly serious about their pursuit of the star, it seems that a move is gathering pace.

• A TalkSport report