Following continued struggles of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Erwin Saavedra, Soccer Laduma looks at the past five South Americans who could not live up to expectations at Sundowns.
Saavedra has only featured three times for Sundowns this season after his loan spell at club Bolivar.
Read: Saavedra Breaks Silence On His Struggles At Sundowns
With one-and-half year left on his contract and yet to make an impact since he was signed three years ago, the Bolivian appears to be one of the South Americans who could not live to their billing at the multiple champions.
Below is the five other South Americans who could not make it at Masandawana in the last five years:
Matias Esquivel
Esquivel was signed from Argentinian club Lanus in January last year for a reported R46 million.
However, the Argentine forward made only 13 appearances and scored two goals in his first six months before he was loaned out to CA Talleres in his homeland.
Junior Mendieta
Mendieta was signed by Sundowns in July 2023 from Stellenbosch with high expectations.
But the Argentinian could not settle, managing only two goals in 29 games, as he was transferred to Greek side Volos NPS a season later.
Mauricio Affonso
Affonso showed promise and offered a different dimension for Masandawana.
The Uruguayan striker, however, appeared only 22 times in the colours of Sundowns and scored six goals over two seasons and did not return for the 2021/22 campaign after The Brazilians signed Slovakian striker Pavol Safranko.
Read: Reports: Sundowns Secure Loan Move For Argentine Centre-Back
Emiliano Tade
Tade struggled with injuries after he was signed from AmaZulu in January 2019 and in December of the same year, the Argentine attacker asked the club to release him from his contract, having made only 12 appearances and scored two goals.
Jose Ali Meza
Meza, signed in July 2018, was expected to compliment Gaston Sirino, who hit the ground running after he was signed six months prior.
The Venezuelan, however, could not hit the heights expected, as he scored only three goals across two seasons at Sundowns before he joined Maritzburg United in October 2020.
