Fans have been left shocked as Sadio Mane seemingly helps former Oldham Athletic striker Desire Segbe Azankpo join Bayern Munich.
Sadio Mane played a role in Desire Segbe Azankpo joining the Bundesliga gaints’ reserve team this summer, according to reports.
SegbΓ© is a Beninese international who was scouted at an early age and sent on trials to Generation Foot Academy in Senegal. That was the same period Sadio Mane had also been brought to the Academy from his village Banbali. The two quickly formed a bond and became good friends.
According several interviews conducted by Mane, he and Segbe shared the same room and shared everything including food and clothes. Mane would sometimes wear Segbeβs boots and vice versa. Segbe was a highly-rated striker at the academy with Mane playing as a midfielder.
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After some few months, Mane was the first to be flown to FC Metz in France. It didnβt take long for Segbe to join him in France. In 2019, Segbe revealed that, Mane had told Metz officials about his friendship with Segbe so the club kept him and Mane in the same room again.
Segbe went on to play for a number of clubs across France, Russia and Holland over the course of nine years and in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Segbe’s Benin came up against Mane’s Senegal – Benin were knocked out the tournament early but Segbe waited for Mane and they travelled together to England.
He and Mane continued to stay in touch and claims he and Mane get in touch on FaceTime everyday. In 2019, Segbe got a move to Oldham Athletic in England. It was just 45mins from Liverpool so Mane asked him to come stay with him in his house.
While Mane was plotting to win the Premier League title with Liverpool, Segbe struggled in League Two – scoring four goals in 28 appearances.
Despite their contrasting success in football, Mane and Segbe stayed in touch for many years. In an interview with Lookcharms earlier this year, the latter explained: ‘He (Mane) always had big ambitions. He always wanted to go as high as possible. He comes from a poor background, like all of us.
‘And we say to ourselves that we have to succeed in order to help the family, to take over, because there are people behind who are hungry.
‘Sadio has always dreamed very big. And I remember when he spoke to me about the Senegalese selectionβ¦ he wanted it so much.’
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Mane was accompanied by Segbe when he arrived for his medical this summer. It’s believed Bayern signed him to help Mane settle into his new environment quicker.
The Senegalese forward netted on his debut for the club as they beat RB Leipzig 5-3 in Saturday’s Supercup.
It’s believed Mane helped Segbe get a trial at the club, before Segbe took to Instagram on Sunday to confirm his move to Bayern Munich on a two-year deal.
When Mane won the African Best two weeks ago, he dedicated the title to his friend Desire Segbe Azankpo who he said has been a pillar in his life and stood behind him when things were tough.
SEGBE’S CAREER:
Senior career
2010β2012 – GΓ©nΓ©ration Foot
2012β2013 – Metz B – 28 games (1 goal)
2013β2014 – Jeunesse Esch – 11 games (6 goals)
2014β2015 – Le Puy – 19 games (7 goals)
2015β2017 – Pagny-sur-Moselle – 21 games (12 goals)
2017β2018 – Γpinal – 22 games (11 goals)
2018β2019 – Senica – 25 games (4 goals)
2019β2020 – Oldham Athletic – 28 games (4 goals)
2020β2021 – Villefranche – 20 games (6 goals)
2021β2022 – Dunkerque – 17 games (1 goal)
2022 β Dinamo BucureΘti (loan) – 2 games (1 goal)
2022β Bayern Munich II
National team
2014β Benin – 7 games (0 goals)
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As mentioned, some fans were left shocked as Sadio Mane helps the former Oldham striker join Bayern Munich…
@davebutter: Sadio mane to bayern βi will sign for you, on one condition. You give my mate Segbe a 2 year dealβ
@CJ_1975_: One of if not the worst footballers Iv ever seen. At least Jameson has conned some poor scout rather than being someoneβs valet
@DomShaw02: I have a lot of time for this transfer
@samuelgill25: Desire Segbe Azankpo going from being one of the worst strikers to play for #oafc in recent memory to joining Bayern due to his connection with Sadio Mane is up there with Jameson continuing to get EFL football and is both baffling and hilarious π
@oafcnipo: WAIT WHAT πππππππππ #oafc
Gary Townsend: one in a long line at oldham that should never appear on a professional football pitch again!
James Brooks: Had a season at Oldham and was one of the worst strikers I can remember in my living memory and probably in our 127 year history. Awful.
Tim Davies: Was literally part of one of the worst oldham squad ive ever seen, really stumped at how he managed to get some sort of contract with bayern, would love to know what they saw in him
Ryan Harley: Well, there’s something I didn’t see coming even if it’s with their reserve team lol
Will Osbourne: Dunno how on earth he managed to pull that off, was woeful at Oldham
Gary Simpson: No way haha thats crazy, wishing him all the best
Eddie Riley: Fairplay to him hope he really lives up to this chance so many dream of
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