The Senegalese player has been in talks with the semi-pro outfit since it was founded back in 2021, but the forward has now officially committed to investing in the Championnat National 2 side, citing his close relationship with the club’s president, Cheikh Sylla, as a deciding factor.

In a recent a statement the former Liverpool midfielder said: “We’ve been working with the city for the past three years, and 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. I believe I’ll be visiting Bourges very soon.”

Although he never played for Bourges, Mané began his European footballing career in France, when he joined Metz back in 2011. A year later he move to Red Bull Salzburg before joining Liverpool where he scored 120 times for the Reds, and played a crucial role in the club’s historic 2019 UCL and 2020 Premier League successes.

The Senegal captain’s ambitions for the lower-league club are to improve access to the game at youth level as well as transforming the women’s setup. Using his status and knowledge of the game at the highest levels, Mané is leaving a legacy both on and off the pitch. And with a natural-born winner at the helm, this young club could be on the up very soon.