Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed the reason why sought-after midfielder Andile Jali may not want to sign for the PSL champions.

Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Sundowns have all reportedly put in bids for the 28-year-old, who recently parted ways with Belgian outfit KV Oostende by mutual consent following a four-year stay with the club.

It is believed that Jali is eyeing a move back to South Africa and when asked on SuperSport show Back Pages if the club are interested in signing the former Pirates man Mosimane said, ‘Ya we like Andile, he is got the stubbornness, the arrogancy of being able to fight with [Hlompho] Kekana and [Tiyani] Mabunda in the midfield, and he knows how to play good football.

‘Andile is the right player for us, but there are a lot of boxes that we need to tick. He comes from Europe, so he expects a lot. We do have the money to pay him and I hope its not about the wealth.

‘We are talking about Mamelodi Sundowns and I need to look after the dressing room. He needs to get what he thinks he deserves to get, it is that kind of process where we need to tick those boxes.

‘Also, really, does he really want to play back in South Africa? Does he want to play for Sundowns?

‘When you play for Sundowns, there are times where I rest player I rested Kekana for five weeks, Themba Zwane for four weeks, I rested all these Bafana players. They were not happy with me because they want to play.’

The 2016 Caf Coach of the Year highlighted that he knows the schedule and what it takes to be successful in this schedule which includes giving his big players time off to ensure they don’t burn out and he questioned if Jali would be able to settle in his squad.’

Pitso admitted that they face competition for the midfielder’s signature, but he will not sign him at all costs. ‘He has got other people who want him. It’s not an auction where who pays more will get him, I also must look after my dressing room.

‘Sometimes I bench my captain. Andile Jali also, is he thinking that “I’m from Europe now, I didn’t come here to sit on the bench, I came here to play”. No no, you can’t play all the games. There is a lot of games and a lot of travelling, some of the games you have to sit  [out].

‘Also we do match analysis, we do all these things. I need you to watch the games and give me feedback. I don’t want to feel like a principal, everyone has to do his homework. You got to be part of the group or you not part of it,’ concluded Pitso.