Bayern Munich slaps Sadio Mane with record fine after Leroy Sane altercation - report

After Bayern's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in the Champions League, tensions ran high in the dressing room, and forward Mane lashed out at teammate Sane, resulting in a bruised lip for the latter and disciplinary action for the former.

Bayern have levied the highest fine in the club's history against Mane, a sum estimated to be well over €300,000 (£260,000), as confirmed by Bayern expert Florian Plettenberg in an interview with Sky Germany. "It's a very, very sensitive fine for Mane," said Plettenberg. The Senegalese forward was also dropped from the squad for Bayern's Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim and had a portion of his hefty £17million-a-year wages docked.

This latest incident comes as a blow to Mane's already troubled first year at Bayern. Since joining the club from Liverpool, Mane has struggled to establish himself as a key player, frequently being shifted between different positions on the pitch without finding his rhythm. He suffered a setback when he injured his right fibula, which ruled him out of the World Cup at the end of last year. Since his return, Mane has failed to find the back of the net and has been consistently left on the bench for important matches, including the recent loss at City.

Bayern's coach Thomas Tuchel, who took over from Julian Nagelsmann last month, has been less than impressed with Mane's performance and reportedly has no plans for the Senegalese in his system.

"From a sporting point of view, Thomas Tuchel has no plans with Mane as he doesn't fit his system," revealed Plettenberg. "This is my information. The player is seen very critically internally."

Mane's future at Bayern now seems uncertain, with reports suggesting that the club is eager to sell him in the summer. Plettenberg claimed, "From what I'm hearing, Bayern will try everything to offload Sadio Mane in the summer." With just six more league games remaining and Bayern on the verge of another disappointing exit from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, Mane's time to prove himself is running out.

The upcoming second leg against Manchester City could be Mane's chance to redeem himself and salvage his Bayern career. Pep Guardiola, the former Bayern coach and now City's manager, has even suggested that the altercation between Mane and Sane could motivate Bayern and give them an added edge.

However, with Tuchel's apparent lack of faith in Mane and the club's reported willingness to sell him, the road ahead looks uncertain for the 31-year-old forward.

As Bayern deals with the aftermath of the confrontation between Mane and Sane, the situation has cast a shadow over the team's performance and ambitions. The severity of the fine imposed on Mane highlights the club's stance on such behaviour, and it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming weeks.

With Bayern's eyes set on a summer sale, Mane's future at the club hangs in the balance, and fans and pundits alike eagerly await the outcome of this saga.