Despite suggestions to the contrary, Mamelodi Sundowns seem to have made a well-calculated move to loan out Matias Esquivel to CA Talleres and have chances of recouping the multi-million transfer fee they paid in January.
Sundowns acquired Esquivel from Argentinian club Lanus in January for a reported R46 million and after the 25-year-old struggled to settle in, he became a scapegoat of The Brazilians' usual foreign quota dilemma.
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Masandawana have in the past made questionable decisions such as parting ways with Pavol Safranko two years ago, just one season after signing him for a reported R12 million, as an alleged sacrifice to free up a foreign spot, with the PSL only allowing a maximum of five.
The club also terminated the contract of Ricardo Nascimento, as a concession, in dealing with a foreign quota issue, six months before it was set to expire in January 2022.
So, when Sundowns announced that they had agreed a loan deal with CA Talleres for Esquivel, with an option to buy, most supporters were inclined to suggest they were at it again with another wastage.
However, fact is, the 25-year-old has joined a club that is in the ascendancy in the last four years in Argentina and should he get game-time, would be much closer to European scouts.
In the last four seasons, Talleres have had players leaving the club directly to European teams such as Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen, Deportivo Alaves in Spain, Brest in France and even deals with MSL clubs.
Currently, the Argentinian club is on the verge of concluding a transfer of their left winger Ramon Sosa to English Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest for €11,7 million (+-R232 million), excluding add-ons, as reported by transfer super journalist Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday.
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Talleres could view Esquivel as one of the potential replacements for Sosa, especially after the club had a bid rejected by Portimonense for Helio Varela, according to Romano, and should the Downs loanee impress, the club has an option to buy, where the South Africans could recoup the majority of the transfer fee they paid to Lanus.
On the other hand, should the left-footer return at the end of the season, he would still add much value, as the Argentine Primera Division is high in quality compared to the PSL.
Talleres, in particular, are one of the early pacesetters, ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.