Update: Schalke have confirmed Sane has signed for Man City.
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Schalke and Germany winger Leroy Sane looks set to complete his move to Manchester City. Here, Press Association takes a look at five things you may not have known about the highly rated 20-year-old.
1. The sport gene runs in the blood
Leroy Sane is from a sporting family, with his mother and father having decorated careers in their respective sports. His mother, Regina Weber-Sane is Germany’s only female Olympic medal winner in rhythmic gymnastics, while father Souleyman was a former Senegal international and played for several clubs including Freiburg, Nurnberg and Wattenscheid.
2. Two brothers could follow in his footsteps
Brothers Kim, 21, and 13-year-old Sidi are on the books at Schalke and currently represent the under-23s and under-15s, respectively. Kim, a defensive midfielder, has been likened to former Royal Blues midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.
3. He has French citizenship
Leroy was a member of the Germany side which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, but he could have gone one step further with hosts France. The 20-year-old was born in Essen, Germany but holds dual citizenship through his father, who was born in Senegal but raised in France.
4. Penne Carbonara is his favourite meal
In an interview with FourFourTwo last year, when questioned on the things he had to give up in his rise to stardom, Sane said: “You shouldn’t drink two litres of Coca Cola every day. It was no problem for me. My favourite meal is Penne Carbonara - that’s good for an athlete, right?” His nutritional habits may be in for an overhaul, given the strict dietary regime recently implemented by City manager Pep Guardiola.
5. He’s a survivor
In the midst of a breakthrough season with Schalke last campaign, German newspaper Bild reported that Sane was involved in a car accident on the A3 motorway near Ratingen-Hosel. He emerged unscathed and went on to help Schalke finish fifth in the Bundesliga.
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