Senegal’s Sadio Mane, has made a significant move in the football business by acquiring a French football club, following in the footsteps of renowned figures like David Beckham, Gary Neville, and Paul Scholes.

Mane’s latest venture sees him as the owner of French fourth division club Bourges Foot 18, as reported by ESPN.

This purchase has been in the works for a while, with Mane’s connection to Bourges Foot 18 president Cheikh Sylla playing a crucial role in sealing the deal.

Previously, Mane had contributed funds to the club to support their recruitment efforts, but he has now taken a more active role after obtaining the approval of the city’s mayor, Yann Galut.

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After finalizing the acquisition, Mane shared a video message in which he expressed his commitment to working with the city and organizing the club.

He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence that, with the continued involvement of the people of Bourges, they can achieve their goals. Mane also hinted at an upcoming visit to Bourges.

Bourges Foot 18 is located approximately 250 kilometers from Paris, in central France. Despite its rich history, the club has never played in a higher division than the French second tier.

Currently, the team occupies the second bottom position in Group B of the Championnat National.

The club was established only two years ago through a merger between two regional clubs.

Bourges Foot 18 also has a legacy of hosting teams like Cannes, who have experienced a significant decline since providing French legend Zinedine Zidane with his professional debut.

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Sadio Mane’s football journey led him to Al Nassr after a stint with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

He achieved great success during his memorable tenure with Liverpool, winning numerous titles, including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.