TOKYO (dpa): Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich left Japan for Singapore on Sunday without forward Sadio Mane who was the same day reportedly finalising a transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
Bayern confirmed to dpa before departure that Mane was "in final contract talks", and reports said that the Senegal captain was to undergo the medical in Dubai before signing for Cristiano Ronaldo's club.
The transfer fee has been estimated at around €30 million (US$33.2 million).
Mane was already no longer part of the Bayern squad in a 1-0 friendly victory over J-League side Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday, following the game at the Japan National Stadium as a spectator.
He came to Bayern last year from Liverpool but never fulfilled the high expectations, scoring 12 goals and injured for a long time as well. He was also engaged in a dressing room altercation with team-mate Leroy Sane in spring.
Bayern bosses have told him that they are planning without him for the upcoming season.
"I think Sadio played a very good first half of the season, he delivered good statistics. It wasn't all his fault that things didn't work out for us in the second half of the season. The big picture was no longer right for us," Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said.
"When you come as a top star, you have to listen to a lot of criticism, some justified, some unjustified."
Bayern are aiming to sign England captain Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur to bolster their attack which has lacked spark since Robert Lewandowski's departure to Barcelona last year.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Yann Sommer could also be on his way out as he has reportedly agreed terms with Inter Milan where is to take the place of Andre Onana who has joined Manchester United.
The 34-year-old Swiss came to Bayern in January on a contract until 2025 in the wake of Manuel Neuer's lower leg fracture.
His fate will depend on how soon Neuer will be fit to play again, especially as Bayern have sent another keeper, Alexander Nübel, to Stuttgart on a season-long loan.
Sommer will want playing time to retain his place as Swiss first choice for next year's Euros.
"I don't want to say much about that at all. I am here with Bayern at the moment. We have an intensive training camp and good games. And we will see everything else then," Sommer said on Saturday.
Question marks have also arisen around Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka's future. A long-time partner of Kimmich, Goretzka now appears to play second fiddle under coach Thomas Tuchel, who fielded newly-signed Konrad Laimer lately.
"I want to find a competitive 11 as soon as possible. That those who are number 12, 13 or 14 must fight to get in," Tuchel said, when asked about Goretzka.
Bayern complete their Asian trip on Wednesday in Singapore when they face Liverpool.
Their first official match is the Ausgust 12 German Super Cup against German Cup winners RB Leipzig, and they open the Bundesliga season six days later away to Werder Bremen. - dpa
