Orlando Pirates are believed to be ready to transfer Relebohile Mofokeng to an overseas club this winter following strong links with Rangers.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos warned after including Mofokeng in his squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe that he believes the 19-year-old is not ready to move to Europe, given his lack of international and top flight football experience.
Broos referenced his past advice to former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Cassius Mailula, after saying the same thing that he should not rush to move overseas and felt vindicated as Mailula has struggled for game time at Major League Soccer club Toronto.
READ | What Rangers expect from Mofokeng revealed?
However, Riveiro in his interview with Radio 2000 held a different opinion, that he felt what's crucial for Mofokeng's career at this point is that he needs to go to the right environment if he moves abroad, regardless of his age or experience.
With his importance to the Pirates team having increased, an overseas-based scout, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout, who has persistently reported on the teenager's possible move to Rangers, says he believes the Soweto giants would be open to letting Mofokeng leave in the current window, as youngsters are not highly valued in the PSL.
"I think they can already feel [he will move abroad], because I saw the [post-match] interview [with Pirates coach Jose Riveiro], I think they are quite ready for that," Kulig said in his interview with the Rangers Review Podcast.
"In South Africa, they don't really appreciate the young players, so they will replace him with some 25-year-old guy. He should move to Europe as soon as possible, let's be honest. He needs to be in Europe this summer. As I said, he has some weaknesses and European culture will wear that out.
"Someone asked me and said the perfect direction for him would be Eredivisie or Belgium but Rangers seems to me a really nice direction as well. I don't know him personally but some players have that mentality, some don't [about adjusting to European football], it depends on him. I saw an interview, he seems like a joyful guy, a very spontaneous guy. Scotland is not really common for that but yeah why not have a player like that in Scotland. We have these speedsters but creative guys are also needed. I'm really looking forward to it. I won't say 100 percent he will succeed in Scotland but I really have high hopes," Kulig added.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.