Miguel Cardoso details how Mamelodi Sundowns signed Nuno Santos

Interview

Cardoso sheds light on how Downs lured Santos

Photo: New Mamelodi Sundowns marquee signing Nuno Santos

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has explained the events that led to the signing of attacking midfielder Nuno Santos.

The 26-year-old Portuguese playmaker was roped in from Liga Portugal outfit Vitoria Guimaraes on a deal worth € 1 million (R20 million) on deadline day.

Santos came off the bench to make his debut in the midweek defeat to Golden Arrows, before winning the man of the match award on his starting XI debut against Richards Bay on Saturday.

Cardoso shed light on how Masandawana pulled off the major coup, attributing it to Vitoria’s desperate need for financial stability in addition to Downs’ exploits at the global showpiece in the US.

“I think his club needed to release some players and make money to manage their own organization, that is clear. Nuno obviously wanted a challenge abroad that could provide him with different opportunities,” he said.

“Of course, the name of Sundowns seduced him after the Club World Cup that we did and obviously it had exposure in Portugal as well due to the fact that I am also a Portuguese coach.

The Portuguese tactician went on to reveal that Santos, along with Miguel Reisinho, were perfect market opportunities at the eleventh hour, stressing the difficulty of luring players of their caliber to South Africa.

“It’s important that South African football people understand that it’s not easy to bring these kinds of players,” Cardoso added.

“It’s just an end of market opportunities and because we were able to wait and we were not even waiting for them. We were waiting for other players and then things didn’t work out and then at the last minute these two appeared.

“I think that we are privileged to have the chance to bring them. Let’s hope they can impact the team as we want and to do but also let’s hope the ones that are [already] here keep impacting the team the way that they have to do.