Maseko left isolated as Sundowns reportedly reject transfer offers

Thapelo Maseko is training alone at Mamelodi Sundowns after the club allegedly turned down transfer offers from FC Copenhagen, Al Ahly and Pyramids, despite the South Africa international reportedly not featuring in manager Miguel Cardoso’s plans.

Maseko’s situation has left him increasingly disheartened, according to sources close to the player, just two months after his heroic performance for Bafana Bafana at the Fifa World Cup.

The 22-year-old was not included in Sundowns’ pre-season squad that travelled to Austria and is now believed to be working separately from the rest of the first-team group.

Sowetan reports that Sundowns have rejected approaches from Danish side FC Copenhagen, Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Pyramids, who are managed by former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena.

“They don’t want to release him around the PSL. There are offers from abroad, but they are not responding to them,” a well-informed source told Sowetan.

The source claimed FC Copenhagen had made repeated attempts to sign Maseko and had submitted another offer on Wednesday.

“They are destroying this boy,” the source said. “There is an offer they received today [Wednesday] from Denmark; they have been sending offers for two weeks now, [but Sundowns] just look at it.

“The boy is training alone; they have sidelined him, and his family has to interfere in this situation, but Sundowns are still not abiding.

“He was supposed to fly today to Denmark to be able to register for the Champions League, but they have been playing hide and seek, and when asked if they have a plan for him, they don’t have it. They left him here during preseason.

“He is no longer in their [WhatsApp] group. Al Ahly made a bid, and they rejected it, while Pyramids also made a bid which was rejected too.”

Maseko’s family is reportedly concerned that the player could suffer depression if the impasse continues.

Sundowns general manager Yogesh Singh could not be reached for comment and did not respond to text messages from Sowetan.

The latest development comes after Maseko previously spoke emotionally about losing his love for football during a difficult spell at Sundowns. He had struggled for regular playing time before joining AEL Limassol on loan in Cyprus.

His performances there helped revive his career and earned him a return to the Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup. However, despite that progress, he was left out of Sundowns’ preparations in Austria.

Maseko joined Sundowns in 2023 and quickly became one of the club’s standout players. He won the inaugural African Football League Player of the Tournament award and was later part of the Bafana Bafana squad that won the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

He also scored the winning goal for South Africa against South Korea at this year’s World Cup.

The reported interest from FC Copenhagen, Al Ahly and Pyramids has not resulted in a move, leaving Maseko’s immediate future uncertain as he remains outside Sundowns’ main training group.