Liverpool legend Sadio Mane is to become the owner of a French fourth division club in 2024
Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane will become the new owner of French fourth tier club Bourges Foot 18, as per an announcement on Wednesday.
Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich during the preseason friendly match between Manchester City and Bayern Muenchen at National Stadium
The agreement for the 31-year-old, currently on the books at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr after a torrid year at Bayern Munich, to complete the takeover was made official by the man himself, the club and French football authorities.
According to reports, Mane will officially assume control of the club on January 1, 2024. The opportunity arose from his friendship with Bourges’ president Cheikh Sylla, who will remain in his role. Mane is believed to have already invested in the club in previous seasons, including contributing funds in the recent summer transfer window.
The Premier League and UEFA Champions League-winner could not be in attendance due to his commitments with Al Nassr – they played last night in the AFC Champions League and do so again in the SPL on Saturday. Instead he appeared via video link at the press conference, where he confirmed his commitment to the project.
“We’ve been working with the city for the past three years. We’re here to nurture and organise the club. The challenge is immense, but if the people of Bourges remain involved, I’m confident we can achieve our goals,” he said, adding: “I believe I’ll be visiting Bourges very soon.”
Sadio Mane will become the new owner of French fourth tier club Bourges Foot 18
Before writing himself into the history books at Anfield, winning six trophies and scoring 120 goals across six years, the attacker spent his first years as a professional footballer in France with FC Metz.
Mane has been known for his charitable contributions during his Liverpool years, especially in development of infrastructure in his home town of Bambali in the Seidhou region of Senegal. This marks his first major venture into investment back into the sport he has become so successful in, in the country where he kickstarted his rise to fame.
He is certainly not the first footballer to use the finances earned from playing to try and transform the fortunes of a lower league side, though Mane’s task will certainly be one of the most challenging of this nature.
Bourges Foot 18, who play at the 7,500 capacity Stade Jacques Rimbault located three hours south of Paris, currently compete in the Championnat National 2 – the fourth tier of French football.
This level is split into four regional groups, with the club Mane has bought sitting 13th out of 14 after seven matches this season.
