Mamelodi Sundowns axe defender for new South American star

Mamelodi Sundowns have made a bold move ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup by dropping Argentine defender Lucas Suarez from the squad, clearing the way for a new South American signing.

Insiders have revealed that part of the reason behind Suarez’s exclusion lies in the club’s intent to free up a foreign spot in their squad. The Brazilians have turned their attention towards signing a striker, reigniting their focus on the South American market.

“What has been brought to our attention is that the Brazilians are searching for a striker and have gone back to that route.”

Sundowns quietly end Suarez experiment

Suarez arrived at Chloorkop on a six-month loan deal, which included an option to extend. Despite an encouraging start where he featured ahead of Malibongwe Khoza, his performance dipped, particularly in high-stakes CAF Champions League fixtures where his weaknesses were exposed.

Although head coach Miguel Cardoso initially protected Suarez behind the scenes, mounting pressure forced him to reconsider. The Argentine’s game time significantly dropped after a string of costly mistakes in domestic matches.

Transfer talks heat up in Argentina

Sources close to the club confirmed that a Sundowns official recently attended the TransferRoom summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Discussions reportedly focused on new foreign prospects, signalling the technical team’s readiness to part ways with Suarez permanently.

With no contractual obligation to sign him beyond the loan, Sundowns appear set to let the defender leave quietly, making space for a more impactful addition.

Shalulile’s future also in doubt?

Interestingly, the shake-up could stretch beyond Suarez.  Adding to this, there is uncertainty surrounding the future of star striker Peter Shalulile, even though he travelled with the team to the United States for the Club World Cup. But talks seem positive recently. 

“It would appear the club is now making plans to recruit a possible replacement.”

Do Mamelodi Sundowns need a new striker?

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