Mamelodi Sundowns have rejected the latest offer for teenage winger Kutlwano Letlhaku, with the player now likely to remain at the club this window.
Sundowns has received five offers from Europe in 2025 from four different clubs for Letlhaku, 19, with two coming from Portugal in the past three weeks, and there was optimism a deal could finally be reached because of the structure of the proposal and the amount that Sundowns could have potentially earned from transferring a player who cost them next to nothing only two years ago.
But the School of Excellence product and his camp feel the club has broken promises made to the U20 Africa Cup of Nations winner, stating they would not stand in his way of a move to Europe – should the opportunity arise – when first joining the club.
This comes in the wake of Sundowns issuing a statement about unsettled players that they would continue to discuss and negotiate with any interest club after several players attracted interest and offers after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America.
The player is believed to have told Sundowns that he wanted the deal to happen in the interests of advancing his career but contrary to their public statement of last week, it is believed that Sundowns did not engage in any dialogue with the Portuguese club other than to twice inform them that they won’t sell him.
Letlhaku – who was not part of the Sundowns squad in their MTN8 semi-final exit against Orlando Pirates this weekend – is believed to be devastated as the team in question currently finds themselves in the Top eight of Liga Portugal.
While the likes of Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Khuliso Mudau were not part of their pre-season preparations and start of the season, the likes of Letlhaku, Thapelo Maseko and Peter Shalulile were among those who did not go on ‘strike’ and remained part of the squad.
However, in the case of the 19-year-old, it has not swayed the stance of Mansandawana, who have reaffirmed he’s not for sale in this current window.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
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