AZ interview with Erik Meijer: The former Dutch international was previously under contract with Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV and Liverpool FC. The 52-year-old works as an expert for “Sky”.
AZ: Mr Meijer, you played for Liverpool FC in the 1999/2000 season and know the club and the environment well. How do the Reds react to Sadio Mané’s move to Bayern? ERIK MEIJER: That’s a great transfer for Bayern, Mané embodies the purest quality. If you as a player have the feeling that it doesn’t fit anymore and want to do something different, you have the freedom to do that nowadays. That’s the way it is with Mané. Liverpool gets a good transfer fee for him (32 million euros fixed, up to nine million bonuses, editor’s note), and Mané can prove himself at a new club. That fits.
What does this transfer mean for the image of the entire Bundesliga? There is only one German club that can handle such a commitment – and that is Bayern Munich. Respect that those responsible managed to do it that way. Mané is an asset to the Bundesliga. Erling Haaland has left Borussia Dortmund and switched to Manchester City. But Mané is now in the league – not a bad exchange.
Mané is not the classic replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who may still be moving to FC Barcelona. In which position is the Senegalese strongest? Mané played 90 percent of his games at Liverpool as a left winger, with a lot of freedom in attack. He can fill any position up front and also played as a center forward for Liverpool when Roberto Firmino was injured for a long time. Mané is physically strong, holds the ball well – so you can use him as a central attacker without any problems. But I think he’s more dangerous when he has some freedom and tends to come off the side and from the bottom of the pitch.
Would you compliment Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic on convincing Mané to move to Bayern? In any case. It’s great that he did it with Mané. And there you can see that a large bank account can be very helpful. (laughs)
The bank account could soon become even bigger if Lewandowski joins FC Barcelona. Would a transfer be the best solution for all parties involved after the last Zoff? I honestly have no idea how the story ends. Of course, the public argument wasn’t nice, you don’t treat each other like that when you’ve had many successful years together.
I think if the transfer fee is right (50 million euros are under discussion, ed.), Bayern will sell Lewandowski to Barcelona. And if the transfer fee does not satisfy Bayern, Lewandowski will not be sold. Then he will continue to play for the club – and score 30 goals in the Bundesliga again next season.
Is Bayern also a contender for the triumph in the Champions League next season due to Mané’s signing – especially if the new star were to storm together with Lewandowski? Maybe that’s exactly the hope: that you can convince Lewandowski of a future in Munich by signing a superstar like Mané. This shows Lewandowski: We’ll help you, we’ll give you a top player and want to win the Champions League together with you and Mané – so boy, be sensible and stay here! That could work, I’m curious.
This article was written by Maximilian Koch
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The original of this article “Erik Meijer celebrates Mané transfer – and gives hope in Causa Lewandowski” comes from the evening newspaper.
