Salif Diao claims Jurgen Klopp is to be blamed for Sadio Mane's exit from Liverpool

Sadio Mane's exit from Liverpool has been blamed on Jurgen Klopp, who has been accused of showing the forward a lack of love while he was still at the club.

The Senegal star called time on his six years at Anfield in the summer, after opting to look for a new challenge in Germany at Bayern Munich.

Mane had entered into the last 12 months of his contract when rumors of his departure from Liverpool started circulating from one media house to another.

READ: Sadio Mane extends goal drought to 4 matches as Bayern draw again

Mane participated actively in the rebuilding process at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and things changed along the way when Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool as it became evidently clear that Mane was playing second fiddle to Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian's contract talks grabbed the headlines early last season, with the Reds desperate to retain their star man. As a result Mane's future looked to have been put on the back-burner and Salif Diao, Mane's compatriot and a former Red, claims Klopp's attitude contributed to his departure.

“I think he has been here for a couple of years and I think at some point he thought he did not have the love that he needed really, here at Anfield. I’m not talking about the fans, for him, I think it was more with the manager." Diao told the Liverpool Echo.

“Things weren’t really going on as they should be so that’s why he decided to go for a new challenge. I think as a top player, every time you stay four to five years at a top club, sometimes it’s good to go for a new challenge.” He added.

Liverpool made a £1 million profit after selling him to Bayern Munich for £35 million 6 years later after his acquisition from Southampton for £34 million.

Liverpool brought in Darwin Nunez from Benfica as Mane's replacement and he has been struggling to fill Mane's void. Mane has on the other end scored five times in 11 games for Bayern as he adapts to life in Germany.

The former Liverpool midfielder added: “Everyone knew it would be hard. For any player coming in, it would be hard to take his place. I think people didn’t realise the hard work he [Mane] has been doing here at Liverpool.

“It’s normal, he’s a top player. He’s been one of the best top three players, if not the best, over the past four years in the world. He’s proven on all levels. Of course, it would be hard for any player to come in and fill his space. It’s going to take time.”

With Liverpool currently 8th in the Premier League and struggling to net goals for some of their matches, is Jurgen Klopp to be blamed for his Liverpool exit?