Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder Patrick "Tito" Maswanganyi is believed to be keen on returning to Europe, according to insiders privy to information.
Soccer Luduma has already reported how his former club, Oliveirense want Maswanganyi to return to their club, and then there could be other suitors around Europe too.
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One wonders if Tito would want to leave a top club in the South African PSL for a second division team in Portugal. The Siya crew discussed his potential price tag for Oliveirense or a top flight club in one of Europe's best leagues.
Farouk Khan, his mentor at Stars of Africa Academy, believes the timing is perfect for Maswanganyi to make the leap back to European football, whether in Portugal or another country.
In an exclusive conversation with the Siya crew, Khan expressed his thoughts on the player's journey.
"I can tell you now Tito is ready for Europe. Even himself as a player, he really wants to play there. You know if Pirates can allow him to go then it won't benefit only Pirates from the sale but also the player himself and the country. He could have stayed longer in Portugal but he was impatient that time," Khan told Soccer Laduma.
Of course, Tito is contracted to Bucs and would be dedicated to the PSL club's objectives this season first, be that with the Premiership title and the Caf Champions League. Maswanganyi would be thinking of the next step after South African football.
"You know many players from Brazil , Argentina and most other African countries use Portugal as a springboard to bigger leagues in Europe and he could have been patient then things could have worked out for him that time. But nothing is lost. He can still go now and make it big. He is ready for Europe," Khan added.
However, Khan expressed some disappointment over the lack of financial return from developing Maswanganyi, despite investing significantly in his growth.
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"If I can be honest with you, we spent close to R500 000 on Tito from development and even sending him to Portugal. You know since the team didn't know him at that time, we had to pay for transport, accommodation and even food and other things. But when he joined Orlando Pirates from SuperSport United we got nothing. I am not complaining but I am just letting you know that there should be a way to compensate the academies which develop players.
"I don't know if I can get something from Pirates if he moves back to Europe now? But as Stars of Africa we are happy to see Tito becoming the player that he is now because we worked with him for many years.
"You see the goals he scored for the national team? He used to score those goals week in, week out for the Academy and I am not surprised he is doing that now. And as I have said, he is ready to go back to Europe now," Khan concluded.
