Sadio Mane’s Childhood Friend Who Was ‘One Of Oldham’s Worst Strikers’ Signs For Bayern Munich

One of Sadio Mane’s best friends, Desire Segbe Azankpo has got himself a contract at Bayern Munich despite having a torrid spell in English football. 

Azankpo joined Oldham Athletics in 2019, and after scoring just 4 goals in 28 appearances, The Daily Mail labelled him as ‘one of Oldham’s worst strikers in memory’. 

The 29-year-old has also represented Metz B, Le Puy, Senica and most recently Dunkerque, a side in French football’s third division. 

And now, he has got himself a contract at Bayern Munich’s reserve team after a successful trial that lasted more than two weeks. Many wondered if Bayern’s new star Mane had a hand in helping his friend get the move. 

📰 After more than 2 weeks of trials with FC Bayern Munich , Beninese International striker Désiré SEGBE AZANKPO 🇧🇯 (29) is signing up for 2 years with the German club. He will play with Bayern Munich's reserve team. He is tied to the club until June 2024.#AfricanFootball pic.twitter.com/NaSJ4iJ0vD

— TOFFIC 👑 (@TofficKagawa) August 1, 2022

Mane and Azankpo have been incredibly close through the years, as explained by Ghanaian journalist, Saddick Adams who posted a thread on Twitter explaining the pair’s wonderful relationship. 

THREAD: Did Sadio Mane get his childhood friend a Bayern Munich contract?

Mane joining Bayern is the talk of town but several reports in Munich indicate that Desire Segbe Azankpo has also joined Bayern Reserve team on a two year contract.

Who is Désiré Segbé? pic.twitter.com/tCHOpgNrcV

— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) July 31, 2022

Their friendship began when they first met at an academy in Senegal where they quickly became good friends. 

The former Liverpool man has previously said that he and Azankpo often shared the same room and shared everything including food and clothes. 

Mane then joined Metz in France and was quickly joined by Azankpo, with the two sharing the same room again due to their friendship. 

However, Azankpo got a terrible injury that slowed his progress, and Mane was starting to develop into a real talent, which got him a move to RB Salzburg. 

Azankpo went on to play in Slovakia and Luxembourg after recovering from the injury. The pair finally separated but continued to keep in touch via FaceTime everyday. 

Despite this, he and Mane continued to stay in touch and claims he and Mane get in touch on FaceTime everyday.

In 2019, Segbe got a move to Oldham Athletic in England. It was just 45mins from Liverpool so Mane asked him to come stay with him in his house. pic.twitter.com/864N0FTg4f

— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) July 31, 2022

The two friends reunited once again in 2019 when Mane was at Liverpool, Azankpo moved to Oldham, which is 45 minutes away from Merseyside. Mane asked his friend to stay with him at his house. 

When the pair faced each other during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Azankpo’s Benin lost 1-0 to Mane’s Senegal but waited until the end of the tournament before travelling back to the UK together.

Mane left Liverpool in the summer and Azankpo was with him for every step of the way. According to Goal.com, Azankpo drove his friend to training sessions and was pictured with Mane for his medical and unveiling.

When Sadio Mane got the Bayern Munich deal, he moved to Germany with Segbe Azangkpo for his medicals, signing and unveiling ceremony.

If you saw someone with Mane throughout the process, that was Segbe. pic.twitter.com/aSkKkhMbrD

— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) July 31, 2022

When Mane was named African Footballer of the Year, he dedicated the award to Azankpo, who he described as a pillar in his life. 

As a result of their incredible friendship, Azankpo earned himself a trial with Bayern Munich II and has now reportedly been given a two year deal.