Orlando Pirates are understood to have begun negotiations to secure the future of one of their influential stars due to mounting interest from Europe, the Siya crew has been informed.
Patrick "Tito" Maswanganyi's current contract is set to expire in June 2026, and Siya sources have now indicated that Bucs are eager to extend his stay to fend off potential suitors.
READ: Nabi: I Don't Like To Lose Because Of Referees
This is after Soccer Laduma reported European interest in Tito, including from his former club UD Oliveirense in Portugal's second division.
According to insiders, Pirates intend to extend Maswanganyi's current deal by an additional two years. When Maswanganyi joined Bucs from SuperSport United in 2023, he signed a two-year contract with a one-year option. The current arrangement will run until June 2025, but the club plans to exercise the option, taking it to June 2026, and then add a new two-year extension, thus lasting until June 2028.
"The new proposed deal for Tito is believed to be a straight two years and it will count from July 2026 which means they will first exercise the one-year that will take this current deal to June 2026, then activate the two new years until June 2028," said the Siya source.
"They are just making sure that they secure his services mainly with the interest from Portugal. They are putting the value in him so that even if they sell him it's not at a low price as he will have a long-term contract with the club," the source added.
A second insider commented that the new contract is set to be an improvement over the previous one that he had signed upon joining from SuperSport.
"His profile has grown. He was still unknown when he joined from SuperSport United but now he is a well-known footballer and attracting interest from a team that let him go in the first place just shows that his value is growing and that's why the club is believed to be offering him a much improved contract compared to the first one. Also, but committing to renew with another two years shows the belief from the club as well in him," the second source stated.
READ: Chiefs' Growing Injury Concerns Amplified!
Last season was a breakthrough for Maswanganyi in Orlando, where he earned accolades such as the Players' Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, and Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament. So far this season, he has made a major impact in the Betway Premiership and was recently capped by Bafana Bafana, where he scored two goals in two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
As Pirates move to secure Maswanganyi's future, the extended contract underscores the club's commitment to retaining top talent and preparing for continued success.
With his growing reputation and the foreign interest in his services, keeping Maswanganyi is seen as a strategic move to bolster the team's performance in the coming years. Soccer Laduma contacted Pirates for comment but the club had not responded by the time this report was published.
