During the recently-concluded January transfer window, Sundowns completed the signings of Erwin Saavedra, Bradley “Surprise” Ralani and Teboho Mokoena.
It was seen as a productive recruitment period of ‘Downs, but Mngqithi has now confirmed they just missed out on signing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and new Liverpool signing Luis Diaz.
“We’ve lost the chance to sign many other players, one of them signed for Liverpool now, can you believe it? We should have signed him before he joined Porto,” Mngqithi commented according to iDiski Times.
“We were on top of Diaz, unfortunately, we delayed one or two days, and he signed for Porto and now [he’s at Liverpool]. We’ve looked at a lot of players – I don’t want to lie to you.”
Sundowns are runaway leaders in the DStv Premiership
Mngqithi said they were even looking at bringing Vinicius Junior to Sundowns but “slacked a little” before “one of the world’s most promising young players” was snapped up by Real Madrid.
“Even Vinicius was on our list of players that we should have signed, and he was not even at Real Madrid,” he said.
“We saw him in the Brazilian Cup, and we were trying to chase him. We slacked a little, but the following day he was signed by Real Madrid.”
BELOW YOU CAN RECAP ON ALL THE CONFIRMED COMINGS-AND-GOINGS IN THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP:
Mamelodi Sundowns:
In:
Erwin Saavedra
Surprise Ralani
Teboho Mokoena
Orlando Pirates:
none confirmed
Kaizer Chiefs:
In:
Keletso Sifama (returning)
Thabo Mokoena (returning)
AmaZulu:
In:
Abraham Majok
Abbubaker Mobara
Stellenbosch:
In:
Juan Carlos Ortiz
Mthethwa
Out:
Ally Msengi
SuperSport United:
Out:
Teboho Mokoena
Royal AM:
In:
Shaun Mogaila
Bandile Dlamini
Out:
Lucky Baloyi
Ronald Pfumbidzai
Tshepo Moeketsi
Tshepo Malepe
Mokone Mereko
Moffat Mdluli
Reagan Van der Ross
Tumelo Njoti
Teboho Khasipe
Vusi Shikweni
Jabulani Ncobeni
Shamrock Kobedi
Jackson Mabokgwane
Sera Motebang
Sekhukhune United:
In:
Justin Shonga
Rodrick Kabwe
Evans Rusike
Luckyboy Mokoena
Out:
Nicholas Lukhubeni
Cape Town City:
In:
Darwin González
Out:
Surprise Ralani
Abbubaker Mobara
Abdul Ajagun
Fagrie Lakay
Shane Roberts (loan)
Douglas Mapfumo (loan)
Marc Anderson (loan)
Golden Arrows:
none confirmed
Marumo Gallants:
none confirmed
Chippa United:
In:
Ronald Pfumbidzai
Sera Motebang
Maritzburg United:
In:
Lucky Baloyi
Tumelo Njoti
Genino Palace
Tawanda Macheke
Nicholas Lukhubeni
Friday Samu
Steven Pereira
Out:
Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Lefa Hlongwane
Jose Meza
Swallows:
Out:
Vuyo Mere
Zaphaniah Mbokoma
Thabo Mathlaba
Baroka:
In:
Ntiyiso Bombi
Out:
Elliot Seema
Joslin Kamatuka
TS Galaxy:
In:
Lefa Hlongwane
Andile Fakude
Vuyo Mere
Orebotse Mongae
Shane Roberts (loan)
Out:
Xolani Slawula
Luckyboy Mokoena