Snl24 | Insider: The Two Clubs Fighting For Mendieta
NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 18: Junior Mendieta of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Carling Knockout match between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns at Mbombela Stadium on October 18, 2023 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
Two Cape Town DStv Premiership sides could lock horns in a January transfer tussle for the signature of Mamelodi Sundowns’ South American-born forward, Junior Mendieta.
Siya sources have indicated that both Stellenbosch FC and Cape Town City are eager to secure the former Stellies forward on loan.
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As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, the Argentinian could leave on a loan move from the Brazilians to seek more regular playing time.
A source close to Sundowns revealed that the player hasn’t yet met expectations, and the club wants to give him a chance to flourish elsewhere for the season’s remainder.
“It’s actually two Cape Town based teams which are interested in Mendieta. It’s City and Stellenbosch. I can tell you they have both made contact with management though it’s not imminent as to which team will sign him but the deal is on the cards for the player to go on loan this January,” said the Siya source.
“It will all depend on talks because whichever team he is loaned to will be paying half of his salary while Sundowns also pays half. Other clubs don’t do that as the club that loans the player pays full salary but because of the salary scales at Sundowns, the deals are different, so that will also play a part in this deal,” the source indicated.
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A second Siya source revealed the club’s desire for Mendieta to remain active, primarily in the second half of the season. This aims to ensure his fitness for the preseason and potential CAF Champions League involvement come May or June.
“What Sundowns want is to keep him fit so that if it happens that he comes back around May or June he can be fit to be considered for the Champions League because they could still be playing in Africa around that time. But they are waiting on the interested teams to agree on those terms and then see what happens after that,” the source told Soccer Laduma.
The 30-year-old Argentinian joined Sundowns at the start of the season and holds a contract until June 2026. He has made seven DStv Premiership appearances and scored once, with his last game being against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the inaugural African Football League, which Sundowns won.
When contacted, Sundowns chose not to comment on these developments.
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