Sundowns land Nuno Santos in last-minute transfer coup

Mamelodi Sundowns has made a significant last-minute signing, announcing the acquisition of Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos on deadline day.

The move comes as a surprise, given that the reigning Betway Premiership champions have been relatively quiet in the transfer market this season.

Prior to securing Santos, Sundowns had only brought in two players: defender Fawaaz Basadien from Stellenbosch FC and midfielder Katlego ‘Tsiki’ Ntsabeleng on loan from MLS side FC Dallas. They also signed youngster Aphelele Teto, who was immediately loaned out to AmaTuks in the second division.

The club’s cautious approach was in line with head coach Miguel Cardoso’s stated desire to work with a smaller, more streamlined squad. This led to a major clear-out, with several high-profile players leaving the club, including Sipho Mbule, Lebohang Maboe, Rushine De Reuck, and Rivaldo Coetzee, among others.

𝗡𝗨𝗡𝗢 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦. Masandawana is proud to welcome Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to the club,” said Sundowns in a statement.

Santos: A Replacement for Ribeiro At Sundowns?

The departure of star forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa left a significant gap in the Sundowns attack. Ribeiro, who was crowned the PSL Footballer of the Season last term, forced a move to Spanish second-division club Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa after a highly successful season where he tallied 21 goals and 14 assists.

Many believe Nuno Santos has been brought in to fill the void left by the Brazilian’s exit. The club officially announced the signing on its social media platforms, stating: “Masandawana is proud to welcome Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to the club.”

The signing of Santos on the final day of the transfer window signals a strategic move by Sundowns to reinforce their squad as they prepare for a challenging season both domestically and on the continent.

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