Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he’ll only consider selling Percy Tau to a European club if his valuation is met.
The 23-year-old has been in great form for Masandawana this season, having already bagged 13 goals and assisted a further 13 from 32 appearances in all competitions.
Mosimane admits that he’ll only allow the in-demand forward to leave the club to join one of the top five leagues in Europe.
‘With players from other countries in Africa‚ it is easier for them to move overseas because they don’t earn big salaries,’ Mosimane told SowetanLive.
‘But in our case‚ we have made a substantial investment in Percy and we want a return on our investment. It was the same with Keegan Dolly. We gave him [Dolly] game time‚ training‚ contracts and all those things.’
He added: ‘Sometimes it doesn’t balance properly with the amount of money that the big European clubs want to pay for South African players.
‘In South Africa, we pay more in terms salaries and those things bring a lot of challenges when players are supposed to go.
‘When European teams go to Tunisia and Egypt‚ they know that they have to pay the right amount of money. South Africa is at that level and we are one of the biggest countries in Africa.
‘Anything is possible‚ he can leave anytime. I have said that if it’s one of the top five leagues in Europe like La Liga‚ Bundesliga‚ EPL‚ Serie A or Ligue 1. Why would you hold on to him? That would not be fair.’
Mamelodi Sundowns will now turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup when they take on Maritzburg United in the semi-final at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00.