Ex-Sion striker Konaté should come
Sadio Mané (31) is investing in the French fourth division club Bourges Foot 18, which the former Bayern striker had already supported financially a few months ago and thus apparently saved from collapse. Now, with the Senegalese’s commitment, the association is becoming a company.
On Wednesday, the mayor of the city from the Berry region in central France, Yann Galut, announced that the professional, who is now active in Saudi Arabia, would join Al-Nassr. Bourges, which maintains a vital city partnership with Augsburg, supports the project, which is also a “social, development-oriented and participatory” project.
Mané was interviewed at the press conference in the city’s town hall, reported by the regional newspaper “LeBerry“ reported, connected. In addition to Mayor Galut, club president Cheikh Sylla, who remained in his role, was also present. The first contacts regarding Mané’s entry had already been made in 2020. Because of the Covid pandemic, the project was on hold for a long time until Mané submitted a declaration of intent in August. They want to “work together on the further development of the club,” emphasized the former Munich player, who left the Bundesliga club after one season this summer.
City of Bourges supports stadium construction – Mané signs striker Konaté
Meanwhile, President Sylla asserted that the project is not about dreaming, but “about strong connections between Senegal and France,” which they want to create with the help of Bourges Foot 18. The fact that the club still exists is solely because Mané “reached into his pocket” in June. Now the professional becomes the majority shareholder.
The first steps of the new club include the signing of the clubless, former Senegalese national striker Moussa Konaté (30, FC Sion among others), as Sylla explained, and rapid work on the Jacques Rimbault Stadium, as Mayor Galut emphasized. In addition to support in terms of infrastructure, the city will not provide any further funds and will therefore not be a shareholder.
In the medium term, Bourges Foot 18’s goal is to get promoted to the second-tier Ligue 2. The current 2023/24 season, which is currently in second-to-last place in the fourth-tier Championnat National 2 – Groupe B, is seen as a transitional season.
To home page