Sundowns Terminates Negotiations with Al Ahly over Sirino

Defending South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns issued a statement on Monday saying they have terminated negotiations with Al Ahly over the potential sale of Uruguay forward Gaston Sirino.

Speculation has been ongoing for several months that the player wants to leave the South African side after three seasons with the club, in which he scored 29 goals and added 24 assists while winning the Telkom Knockout, Nedbank Cup and three league titles.

The club announced today that it has terminated discussions with Al Ahly SC as the two clubs are too far from each other on the transfer fee for Sirino.

"The good relations between the President of Al Ahly, Mr Mahmoud El Khatib and the President of Mamelodi Sundowns, Dr Patrice Motsepe will continue as well as the good relations between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly but there is no point or purpose in continuing the discussions on Sirino.

"We will continue releasing players to European, African and other football countries like it did for Percy Tau, Keagan Dolly, Bongani Zungu, Ivorian International Siaka Tiéné and other players but the transfer fee must be competitive as Mamelodi Sundowns is consistently paying high and internationally competitive transfer fees for the players that it acquires.

"Sirino must now focus on his football and compete for a starting position at Mamelodi Sundowns."

It will remain to be seen how focused Sirino will be as he has previously made clear his desire to join his former coach Pitso Mosimane at Egyptian giants Al Ahly.