Who the player is:
Andile Jali is a Bafana Bafana international and current Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder. Born in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, he shot to prominence in a talented University of Pretoria side who enjoyed a stellar Nedbank Cup in 2009 before joining Orlando Pirates in 2010. He left the Buccaneers for Europe in 2014, where he joined Belgian topflight outfit KVC Oostende where he spent four years. Jali returned to South African soil when he joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018 under the guidance of then coach Pitso Mosimane.
What Transfermarkt says:
In a team of superstars at Mamelodi Sundowns, Jali is valued as the club's 10th most valuable player, which is impressive, considering Jali's age, 32, and the fact that his market value has seen a decline in recent seasons. At the peak of his powers in Europe, Jali achieved his highest-ever valuation of €2 million (±R39.3 million) he was 26 at the time. Upon joining Sundowns in 2018, he was valued at €1 million (±R19.6 million); however, that amount has decreased to his current valuation of €850 000 (±R16.6 million).
Contract status:
In 2018, Jali put pen-to-paper signing a five-year contract with Mamelodi Sundowns amid rife speculations surrounding his next destination. His contract was set to end in June 2023. Five years later and the veteran midfielder is closer than ever to an exit from the Brazilians, with just two months left to run on his contract.
Jali has experienced an impasse with Sundowns, who are non-committal in offering the reigning PSL Midfielder of the Season a new deal, despite comments from the head coach Rulani Mokwena stating that he would love to hold onto Jali.
Buyout clause:
He has just over two months to run on his existing contract with Sundowns, which expires in June, meaning that Jali will likely join a team as a free agent. Barring a dramatic turnaround in the situation where the two parties find common ground, Jali's time at Chloorkop is as good as done. The player will be keen to return to the field of play having last featured for Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup back in February against Richards Bay.
How much in SA and where:
Jali is understood to be among the highest earners at Sundowns putting him a precarious position with his next move on the horizon. In the current context, very few teams would be able to afford Jali's high package at this point. Only the player's former club Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who he has been linked with in recent times, would be likely destinations for Jali. There are other options he could explore in the country; however, it would most likely come at the cost of a salary cut. Jali turns 33 this month and will in all likelihood be looking to secure his biggest pay day in the twilight of his career. Given that he was rated the best midfielder in the league last season, it shows that the bustling midfielder still has a lot to give both on and off the field.
How much in Europe and where:
Back in 2014, the then 23-year-old midfielder joined KV Oostende from Orlando Pirates in a deal estimated to be worth around R15-million. Prior to that, he was said to have attracted interest from England. Jali spent four seasons in Europe where he made a total of 124 appearances for Oostende. More recently, Jali's agent Mike Makaab has confirmed that the midfielder has once again garnered interest from abroad, although it remains to be seen whether a move to Europe at this point in time is a priority for the midfielder.
Dream move:
Jali, who is capped 49 times at senior national team level with Bafana Bafana already boasts the title of having represented two of the 'Big 3' clubs in the country in Sundowns and Pirates. Rumours have been rife about a possible move to Kaizer Chiefs, which if it does materialize, will put the midfielder in an elite league of players who have featured for Sundowns, Pirates and Chiefs.
The player's agent has confirmed interest in his services both locally and abroad and it will be interesting to see Jali's next destination as his exit from Sundowns draws closer.
