Miguel Cardoso clears the air on Thapelo Maseko situation

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has set the record straight on Thapelo Maseko's situation, with the player facing an uncertain future at Chloorkop.

The 22-year-old speedy winger is reportedly unsettled at the club as he angles for a move away from the African champions, having been also left out of the Austria pre-season camp for the 2026/27 campaign.

He spent the second half of the previous term on loan with Cypriot outfit AEL Limassol, where he scored two goals with a solitary assist in 15 matches across all competitions.

Now, fresh reports indicate that Sundowns are not keen to do business with local Betway Premiership rivals for the services of Maseko, opting to facilitate an exit abroad instead.

With the player's future in limbo which ultimately sparked criticism of the Tshwane giants, Cardoso has cleared the air on the events surrounding the Bafana international's highly publicized uncertain future.

“First of all, between coach Miguel and Thapelo Maseko there's no issues, yesterday [Saturday] I had a beautiful talk with Maseko. And when I was asked from inside the club, when we had to discuss the situation of Maseko - obviously we have to understand if he wanted to stay with us or not,” said the Downs mentor.

"I don't want to work with players that don't want to be part of our group. I even told him yesterday that my heart is open for you, even the team is open for you if you want to join us and stay with an open heart with us.

"Obviously, when the player says I want to go to other places then it becomes the club's question and not the coach's question. So, I'm not really fully inside the conversations that happen, so I cannot give more explanations rather than to say Thapelo is a wonderful boy, we like him very much.

"He obviously had that spell in Cyprus and he did very well, he got emotional in a very good place, and then went to the World Cup and had the chance to play first and even to score. We stayed absolutely happy, me and him exchanged messages throughout the competition.

"And I think that I even helped him to understand how he really had to put energy in what he was doing, and now it's up to the club to solve the questions between him defending the rights of the club of course, and trying to see what is best for the player.

The Portuguese tactician went on to address Monnapule Saleng's absence, making a shock revelation that the former Orlando Pirates talisman has repeatedly breached camp and dressing room values.

“Regarding Saleng, the situation is unfortunately very different. Saleng consecutively broke the rules and the values of the locker room and of the club. He is not training with the team for some time already,” Cardoso added.

"Just for you to understand, Saleng was on the list for the second match of the Champions League [final] and he didn't appear. Saleng was on the list to go on camp [in Austria], he didn't appear or he said he would not go.

"So, it's impossible for us to keep stability with a player that we gave so much love even after systematic mistakes, but then he's not willing to make the path that a team in this level has to have - so the club decide to put him separately.

Sundowns, meanwhile, will swing back to Betway Premiership action with a clash against hoodoo side TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday, 11 August.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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