Mamelodi Sundowns boss Cardoso says adaptation issues contributed to Miguel Reisinho struggle

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Cardoso believes Miguel Reisinho’s difficulty adapting to life in South Africa played a major part in the Portuguese midfielder’s brief spell at the club.

Unlike compatriot Nuno Santos, who made an immediate impact after arriving at Chloorkop, Reisinho left Mamelodi Sundowns at the start of the 2026/27 campaign after making only 14 appearances for the Brazilians in all competitions.

Cardoso said a player’s willingness to embrace a new country and football culture can be decisive in determining whether a move becomes a success. He suggested that this is particularly important for players arriving in South Africa, where the environment and style of football can differ significantly from what they have previously experienced.

“Players need to be open hearted to adapt in a country that is completely different from theirs. As a coach, I love the differences between all the football cultures, and I love to experience new things and to go to places I’ve never been before so as to learn more about that country.”

The coach indicated that Reisinho, 27, may not have done enough to understand and accept the pace of life both inside and outside football.

Cardoso stressed that players joining Sundowns arrive with ability, but said talent alone is not always enough to guarantee a successful spell. In his view, newcomers must also be prepared to engage with the club, their team-mates and the wider South African experience.

“If you start denying everything, and you don’t dance in the locker room and you don’t embrace the beauty of South Africa, then it will be more difficult for you. Sundowns never bring players in with no quality, it’s never ever happened.

“The difference between places like Germany, France, England and Portugal is not so big, but when you come to South Africa there is a huge difference. The tempo of the game is also completely different.”

The contrast between Reisinho’s experience and that of Nuno Santos was central to Cardoso’s explanation. While Santos quickly adapted to the surroundings at Chloorkop, Reisinho was unable to establish himself before departing after a limited number of appearances.

Cardoso also questioned whether Reisinho had made a sufficient effort to become part of the dressing-room culture and develop a strong relationship with his team-mates. Building that sense of belonging, the coach suggested, is an important part of settling into a new club and country.

His comments offered a broader explanation for why a player of Reisinho’s quality struggled to make a lasting impression at Sundowns, rather than suggesting that the midfielder lacked ability. Cardoso believes the challenge was an overall failure to adapt to the demands and differences of South African football.

The coach also accepted that not every player recruited by Mamelodi Sundowns will become a success story, acknowledging that even carefully selected signings can struggle to fit into a new environment.

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