Klopp claims Sadio Mane can play until 38 as he hails 'absolutely crazy' fitness

Jurgen Klopp has stated Sadio Mane can play until the age of '38 or 39' due to his outstanding physical condition.

The Senegalese star, who had a year left on his contract at Klopp's Liverpool, completed a move to Bayern Munich this summer in a transfer which could reach £35million, on a three-year contract.

But Reds manager Klopp claimed the 30-year-old, who scored 23 goals in all competitions last season, could play into the 2030s given his 'absolutely crazy' fitness.

He said: 'He will play for ages. He can play until 38, 39; with his body that is absolutely crazy. Bayern have a really good player and we had him for six years so that is fine and all showed that these kinds of transfers can work.

'I will use it in the future as an example. It is completely that sometimes in relationships there are changes needed.

'In this case Sadio wanted (to move) and we reacted and we try to make the best of it. I am completely fine with it, even though we will miss him.'

Klopp continued to say Mane, who scored 120 goals in 269 games across his six years at Anfield after a £34m move from Southampton in 2016, dealt with his Liverpool exit in a respectful and dignified way.

Last weekend Mane revealed he told the German about his wish to leave in 2021, saying: 'It was last year I took my decision to leave because I need a new challenge in my life.'

The forward pipped former team-mate Mohamed Salah to the African Footballer of the Year award for 2022 after helping his national side beat Salah's Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February and guiding them to the World Cup.