An influential voice has come out to reveal why any team interested in Mamelodi Sundowns players must be prepared to pay a fair price.
Top performers Khuliso Mudau, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, and Peter Shalulile are believed to be on the verge of leaving Sundowns having been conspicuous with their absence as the side put Richards Bay FC to the sword in the MTN8 quarterfinals on Sunday.
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Footballer of the Season Ribeiro is rumored to be attracting interest from clubs in Qatar and Fluminense from his homeland in Brazil. Meanwhile, sharpshooter Shalulile is reportedly linked with Tunisian giants Esperance, while Mudau has yet to finalise a new contract at Chloorkop.
"That's professional football - people come and go, and players move around," notes the legendary Roger Feutmba.
"Mudau is an excellent player, Ribeiro performed exceptionally well last season, and Shalulile is still one of our best strikers in this league. It is normal for players to leave their clubs for better opportunities, but we must remember that before joining Sundowns, these players came from other club and Sundowns made significant investments to sign them.
"Football is a business, and the club invested heavily in players to build the Sundowns we see today. The club needs to generate revenue to maintain its competitive level.
"The three players have already made substantial contributions to the club, and I would be pleased if they decided to stay. However, I would also understand if they moved on to better opportunities, especially Mudau, who I believe has the talent to succeed anywhere," he further explained
The erstwhile playmaker has pleaded for the Tshwane giants to be given the space to make decisions that are in the best interest of both the club and the players.
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"We must always consider the investment the club has made in these players. In this case, Sundowns has every right to demand a fair price for their players.
"That is the reality of football."
Head coach Miguel Cardoso danced around the issue when asked about the trio's absence over the weekend.
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