Cardoso says transfer window is affecting Sundowns midfielder Nuno Santos

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says the open transfer window is creating instability within his squad, after being asked about the recent form of Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos.

Sundowns’ hopes of winning the MTN8 were weakened on Sunday when they lost 1-0 at home to Lamontville Golden Arrows in the first leg of their semi-final at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.

Cardoso introduced Brayan Leon, Siphelele Mkhulise and Santos after half-time as he attempted to turn the tie around, but none of the substitutes could make a decisive impact. Pitso Dladla’s Golden Arrows side held on to secure an advantage before the return fixture.

Santos has made only two appearances for Sundowns during the 2026/27 campaign. He started the league opener against TS Galaxy and later came off the bench against Golden Arrows.

The 27-year-old joined Sundowns in late 2025 and has since scored five goals and provided three assists in all competitions. His most significant contribution came in last season’s CAF Champions League, where he recorded three goals and three assists in seven matches.

Asked after Sunday’s defeat how he could get the best from Santos, Cardoso suggested that the uncertainty surrounding the transfer market was affecting the squad, while stressing that the issue was not limited to one player.

“Look, sometimes there are those things that we cannot expose completely,” Cardoso said in response to a question about getting the best out of Nuno Santos.

“There are things that happen in the team that the coaches cannot speak freely about; it does not have to do only with Nuno, it has to do with a lot of things.

“You should understand that there is obviously some capacity that we had to have to keep some of the things that happen stable inside of our walls – and I’m not speaking about Nuno; I’m speaking in general.

“The stability comes exactly when the market closes, and everything starts to go from there. You see other teams in South Africa also struggling with these types of situations. It happens everywhere in the world. It’s clear that the market touches people; it touches the connections.

“That stability will also help so we can settle everybody down with a clear understanding of where we are, who we can count on and how much we need to commit every day to be an important part of the process that we want.

“Nuno is an extraordinary player – you know that. Especially how he performed in the [CAF] Champions League; he was absolutely amazing.

“That is the Nuno that we saw. When the players smile, when the players are happy, it will bring flow and energy.

Sundowns have experienced significant movement in their squad during the current transfer window. Winger Thapelo Maseko completed a €1.5 million move to Danish club FC Copenhagen, while veteran midfielder Miguel Reisinho and striker Peter Shalulile have also left the club.

The Brazilians have responded by bringing in three notable additions. Centre-forward Cassius Mailula has returned from Toronto FC, while winger Siyanda Ndlovu has joined from Golden Arrows. Antonio Van Wyk is the other new arrival.

Sundowns must now overturn their one-goal deficit in the second leg if they are to keep their MTN8 title ambitions alive.