Matias Esquivel Faces Uncertain Future After Sundowns Loan Termination

Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Matias Esquivel is facing an uncertain future following the early termination of his loan deal in Greece. Greek side A.E. Kifisia confirmed the end of the loan a few weeks ago, forcing the Argentine forward to return to Sundowns. Reports indicate he will not be part of the first team at Chloorkop this season.

Esquivel may go out on loan again during the current campaign. If Sundowns fail to find a club for him, he is unlikely to be registered as part of the team, especially following the arrival of Colombian attacker Brayan Leon. FIFA rules allow a player to be loaned out twice in a season, provided they return to their parent club and the overall club limit is respected.

Earlier in the season, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso addressed Esquivel’s struggle to break into the first team. Cardoso explained that the Argentine was originally brought in under former coach Rulani Mokwena, and opportunities were limited at the time. “Matias is a player that came to Sundowns not with me, but with Rulani Mokwena. So if he did not have chances and he didn’t succeed, it was on that time he went back to Argentina. I have nothing with him coming to the club. It’s not to put pressure on me regarding Matias Esquivel,” Cardoso said in August last year.

Cardoso added that Esquivel is a talented player but needs to prove himself in training to earn playing time. “Matias is a very good player and you will succeed where he will go. I also didn’t give him playing minutes. It was not only coach Rulani. Me also. We didn’t give him any chances. But maybe for different reasons because I don’t know what happened before. Matias also wasn’t constant in telling me that he wants to play. And that is said by training hard, better than the other players. You need to understand that a player to play must show in the training sessions that he is better than the ones that are playing in the same position.”

If Esquivel does not secure a move in the current transfer window, he will have to wait until the end of the season to find an opportunity away from Chloorkop. The Argentine’s next move will be crucial for his career, as competition for attacking positions at Sundowns remains intense.