With a few Mamelodi Sundowns players desperate to move overseas, Soccer Laduma looks at the outgoing transfer trend since Sporting Director Flemming Berg was appointed and before his arrival.
The biggest news coming out of Sundowns in this transfer window is that Lucas Ribeiro Costa has threatened to terminate his contract with the club and take his matter to the FIFA Football Tribunal to get his clearance, with allegations that the Brazilians have rejected generous offers from clubs abroad for his services.
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The likes of Khuliso Mudau was also understood to have been absent from training for a period of time after returning from the FIFA Club World Cup.
Indications are that Masandawana was not prepared to accept bids for his services from teams overseas, and clubs in North Africa showing interest.
Since Berg was appointed in April 2022, Sundowns have not been actively involved in selling players overseas, as only Cassius Mailula was successfully transferred to United States side Toronto ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Before the Danish administrator came on board though, Masandawana was rumoured to have played hard ball with releasing players.
Before Mailula's transfer, former midfielder Percy Tau absconded training and eventually forced a move to Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.
Collectively, five years prior to Berg's arrival at Sundowns, the Chloorkop based side had also sold players to overseas clubs, including Keagan Dolly to Montpellier and Bongani Zungu to Vitoria Guimaraes, both in the 2016/17 term.
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The Brazilians, before then had spent three seasons without selling any player overseas, after Siyanda Xulu's transfer to FC Rostov in the 2012/13 season.
Before Xulu's departure to Russia, Sundowns had sold Siboniso Gaxa to Belgian club Lierse SK two seasons prior.
