While they have lit up every European pitch in recent years, the last four African Ballon d'Or winners are experiencing a complicated start to the championship. Salah, Mané, Mahrez and Aubameyang are far from their usual level.
The end of last season presaged a good vintage for African stars in European leagues. At the first international break this Monday, September 19, the observation is quite different. The most famous African stars do not shine. They are far from their best. Even Sadio Mané who, last spring, was favorite to be the second African footballer to win the Ballon d'Or after Mister Georges Weah in 1995. The Senegalese who had a colorful summer with a transfer from Liverpool to Bayern Munich is experiencing a very pale beginning of autumn.
Scorer in the German Super cup and in his first game in the Bundesliga, the star of the Lions faded away afterwards. He has been mute for five games and especially Mané seems lost in a Bavarian collective. However, fans of SM17 know that these periods of less well are not a novelty for him. Even at Liverpool, where he flamed during six seasons, Sadio has known such droughts. His latest slump last November and December may have even prompted Klopp and co. to bring in the younger, more versatile Luis Diaz on the left side. After returning from the AFCON in February, he ended up shining at the top and brightening the Reds' end of the season.
Salah without inspiration, Mahrez without goals or passes
The one who was no longer used to these diesel starts was his former colleague in the Mersey, Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has always started with a bang since he joined Liverpool. Last season, for example, he found the net in all six group games of the Champions League and had already scored 11 goals after 10 games in the Premier League. This season, he has neither the statistics (3 goals and 2 assists in 8 games), nor the influence in the game. Like a certain Riyad Mahrez at City.
The Skyblue who comes out of his best statistical season is even in a much more delicate situation. The Algerian signed 24 goals and 9 assists, all competitions combined in the last exercise. After nine games of the current one, it is a zero score in passing and finishing. The Fennec is no longer the first choice on the right wing at Manchester City.
Finally, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is going through a difficult period on and off the field. Robbed and violently assaulted in Barcelona, he had to leave Catalonia despite six successful months between January and June (11 goals in 17 games in La Liga). Indeed, it was necessary to make room for Robert Lewandowski, the Blaugrana's star recruit this summer.
The Gabonese then decided to return to London and to sign for Chelsea, a rival club of his former team Arsenal. But a week after his arrival, Thomas Tuchel, who refused Ronaldo to bring him in, was fired. Since the beginning of the season, the Panther has only been on the pitch for 133 short minutes. Too starved. Newly retired international, he will not have the national team to find playing time and possibly recharge the batteries of confidence.
