REVEALED: Sundowns just missed out on signing Real, Reds stars

During the recently-concluded January transfer window, Sundowns completed the signings of Erwin Saavedra, Bradley “Surprise” Ralani and Teboho Mokoena.

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It was seen as a productive recruitment period for ‘Downs, but Mngqithi has now confirmed they just missed out on signing Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and new Liverpool signing Luis Diaz.

“We’ve lost the chance to sign many other players, one of them signed for Liverpool now, can you believe it? We should have signed him before he joined Porto,” Mngqithi commented according to iDiski Times.

“We were on top of Diaz, unfortunately, we delayed one or two days, and he signed for Porto and now [he’s at Liverpool]. We’ve looked at a lot of players – I don’t want to lie to you.”

Sundowns are runaway leaders in the DStv Premiership

Mngqithi said they were even looking at bringing Vinicius Junior to Sundowns but “slacked a little” before “one of the world’s most promising young players” was snapped up by Real Madrid.

“Even Vinicius was on our list of players that we should have signed, and he was not even at Real Madrid,” he said.

“We saw him in the Brazilian Cup, and we were trying to chase him. We slacked a little, but the following day he was signed by Real Madrid.”

FULL LIST: ALL THE DEALS DONE IN THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP JANUARY WINDOW!

BELOW YOU CAN RECAP ON ALL THE CONFIRMED COMINGS-AND-GOINGS IN THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP:

Mamelodi Sundowns:

In:

Erwin Saavedra

Surprise Ralani 

Teboho Mokoena 

Orlando Pirates:

none confirmed

Kaizer Chiefs:

In:

Keletso Sifama (returning)

Thabo Mokoena (returning)

AmaZulu:

In:

Abraham Majok

Abbubaker Mobara 

Stellenbosch:

In:

Juan Carlos Ortiz

Mthethwa

Out:

Ally Msengi

SuperSport United:

Out:

Teboho Mokoena

Royal AM:

In:

Shaun Mogaila 

Bandile Dlamini

Out:

Lucky Baloyi

Ronald Pfumbidzai

Tshepo Moeketsi

Tshepo Malepe

Mokone Mereko

Moffat Mdluli

Reagan Van der Ross

Tumelo Njoti

Teboho Khasipe

Vusi Shikweni

Jabulani Ncobeni

Shamrock Kobedi

Jackson Mabokgwane

Sera Motebang

Sekhukhune United:

In:

Justin Shonga

Rodrick Kabwe

Evans Rusike

Luckyboy Mokoena

Out:

Nicholas Lukhubeni

Cape Town City:

In:

Darwin González

Out:

Surprise Ralani

Abbubaker Mobara

Abdul Ajagun

Fagrie Lakay

Shane Roberts (loan)

Douglas Mapfumo (loan)

Marc Anderson (loan)

Golden Arrows:

none confirmed

Marumo Gallants:

none confirmed

Chippa United:

In:

Ronald Pfumbidzai

Sera Motebang

Maritzburg United:

In:

Lucky Baloyi

Tumelo Njoti

Genino Palace

Tawanda Macheke

Nicholas Lukhubeni

Friday Samu

Steven Pereira

Out:

Bongokuhle Hlongwane

Lefa Hlongwane

Jose Meza

Swallows:

Out:

Vuyo Mere

Zaphaniah Mbokoma

Thabo Mathlaba

Baroka:

In:

Ntiyiso Bombi

Out:

Elliot Seema

Joslin Kamatuka

TS Galaxy:

In:

Lefa Hlongwane

Andile Fakude

Vuyo Mere

Orebotse Mongae

Shane Roberts (loan)

Out:

Xolani Slawula

Luckyboy Mokoena