After Orlando Pirates confirmed the loan deal for Monnapule Saleng to Orbit College, Soccer Laduma analyses the rise and fall of the 27-year-old's market valuation.
The biggest talking point of Saleng disappearance in early December last year, was whether he was right to stay away, for allegedly perceiving a purported salary of R70 000 per month salary to be too little and wanted an increase.
Read: Saleng Loan Just The Start? More Pirates Stars Tipped For Orbit Move
However, if that is the base salary he started with since he was signed from Free State Stars in June 2021 and loaned out to Moroka Swallows.
It appears there was no reason to argue that R70 000 is too little in the 2022/23 campaign, upon the left footer's return, as he was valued at around R420 000 by transfer data website transfermarkt.
Saleng's commercial value rose dramatically post his first season at Pirates, where he scored 11 goals and had 15 assists, going up to a price tag of R8,4 million mid season of the 2022/23 term.
With Bafana Bafana appearances and speculation that he had attracted interest from clubs abroad, particularly France, Belgium and the Middle East, the Bloemhof attacker's valuation rose to R25,2 million at the end of that campaign, around May 2023.
Heading into the 2023/24 season, the 27-year-old still saw a rise to his valuation, as he was weighed at R27, 3 million, with clubs in North Africa reportedly showing interest.
Read: Saleng Follows In Lorch And Mabasa's Footsteps
However, following Saleng's disappearance in December 2024, for the last six months of the campaign, his value dropped to R21, million to date, with the data last updated in May 2025, which means the contractual saga and not playing for six to seven months cost him around R6,3 million in commercial value.
The Bafana Bafana forward's value could drop further should he not peak at Orbit College on loan, where he will not be surrounded by quality players.
