A coach in the United States, who has been following Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup, has opened up on the difficulty for players to move overseas, even after a good showing.
After impressing at the FIFA Club World Cup, with one win, one draw and only one defeat, there is a general feeling that some Sundowns players are good enough to play in Europe or at a good level overseas.
Masandawana midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa has reportedly attracted interest from French side Saint-Etienne, who are believed to be willing to spend R41 million on a transfer fee, to land the Brazilian.
READ: Is R41 Million Enough For Sundowns’ Star?
Except the fact that Sundowns have paid more to bring players to the club from South America or Europe, there are also clubs who would be interested to sign some of the Brazilians players, but only after assessments, which Kyle Timm, a coach at American club Lexington Sporting, believes that's when it gets tricky for Masandawana players with prospects of moving abroad.
"I think there'll be clubs that would be open to inviting some Sundowns players for assessment but the challenge is, will the club let them go for an assessment?" Timm discussed the matter with Soccer Laduma.
"One of the biggest challenge for Sundowns in particular, what are the players leaving the club for? These guys are making good money, they are at home, they're comfortable, the team is winning, they're playing Club World Cup.
"Some of these clubs in Europe, I'm not talking Dortmund level, not everywhere in Europe they are paying crazy amounts of money. It's hard to say the (Sundowns) players lack ambition because at the end of the day its their lives, they're comfortable, they are playing, they are happy," Timm said.
READ: Sundowns Insiders Respond To Mayele Link
"From the outside, it's easy to say, 'Just go to Europe' but if you go to Europe and things don't work out for you, your stock drops. It's complex, its not easy to just pack your bags and go to Europe. Another country, you have to adjust and all that, it's not always going to work out, even if you're a good player.
"Two, three years, it didn't work out, who is going to take you back, at the same price? But I'd love to see them playing at the highest level," Timm added.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
