Sundowns will not sell players cheaply, says Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has defended the club’s approach to player transfers, warning that European teams cannot assume talent from Africa will be available at a low price.

Sundowns have recently completed two deals involving players moving to Europe. Thapelo Maseko has joined FC Copenhagen in Denmark, while young midfielder Thato Sibiya is due to spend the season on loan at French Ligue 1 club Lille OSC.

However, Cardoso said Maseko’s move required careful consideration before Sundowns agreed to the deal, with the club needing to balance the player’s ambitions against their own sporting needs.

The Portuguese coach said it was not as simple as allowing players to leave whenever an opportunity arose. Sundowns must assess the timing of a transfer, the player’s importance to the squad and whether the fee reflects the value they place on that player.

“It’s a conflict that we have to attend to and a position we have to understand. Obviously, the club cannot allow all the players to go because they want to try something; otherwise, how do we build our team?

“We need to understand who is the player, the moment the player has an opportunity and if that moment is coincides with the moment of the club. Otherwise, it would be difficult to allow Maseko to go,” Cardoso told the media.

The coach explained that Sundowns’ ability to bring in Siyanda had helped create the conditions for Maseko’s departure. Without that addition, Cardoso suggested, releasing the winger would have been considerably more difficult.

“For example, having a chance to bring Siyanda opens more possibilities for Maseko to go. If we could not clinch that deal, how could we release with an open heart for Maseko to go? Sometimes it’s a matter of whether it’s possible.

“In the end, we have to think about ourselves so that we can still produce the results we want, and also how much value the clubs are allowing themselves to give for our players, because we cannot give players by any price. You know that people look at Africa like it’s cheap, so let’s go there, and it’s not like that because what is cheap for some is very expensive for others, and for us, a player who goes away is a product. So, it’s not that simple to let (a player) go.”

Cardoso’s comments came as Sundowns continued to manage interest in several members of their squad. The club have developed a reputation for driving hard bargains when negotiating the sale of players, but the coach insisted that their position was based on the need to remain competitive and protect the value of their talent.

Sundowns are also considering the future of junior international Kutlwano Letlhaku, who has attracted interest from clubs abroad. A move for Letlhaku has not been completely ruled out.

Cardoso’s remarks underline the tension between giving players the opportunity to pursue careers in Europe and ensuring Sundowns retain enough quality to produce the results they expect. For the South African club, a transfer must work for both the individual and the team before an agreement can be reached.