After struggling to secure a regular spot at Mamelodi Sundowns since joining the team in 2022, Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil is understood to be seeking a return to his home country to revive his career.
Sources close to the club have indicated that Boutouil has requested to be released from his contract to facilitate his move back to Morocco, where he believes he will have more playing opportunities.
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The sources added that while no final decision has been made, discussions have taken place, and Boutouil is eagerly awaiting a response from the club's management.
"Just like every player he wants to be playing more regularly and mainly because he is a foreign player in the team. Yes, he has been talking to both the technical team and management that he would want to leave so that he can go back home to Morocco and find a team there," said the Siya source.
"At the moment I can't say how far the talks have gone but he requested to be released on mutual agreement so that he can return to Morocco," the source added.
However, the primary obstacle to Boutouil's departure could be financial, according to a second insider who noted that the defender still has three years remaining on his contract with Masandawana, which complicates the situation.
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"It won't be cheap or easy to just release him because they have to discuss the financial details if he is to leave before his contract finishes. So, if that part is solved or if there is a team in Morocco willing to buy him out then things could be much easier for both the player and the club. So, for now the financial details are the stumbling block," the source indicated to Soccer Laduma.
Boutouil's contract with Sundowns runs until June 2027, with an additional two-year option. Since joining the club in the 2022/23 season, he has made only a few appearances each season. His limited playing time has prompted him to seek a move where he can have a more active role on the field.
As negotiations continue, both Boutouil and Sundowns will need to navigate the financial complexities to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether Boutouil can return to Morocco and reignite his career or remain in South Africa's PSL.
