Mamelodi Sundowns are set for their Fifa Club World Cup Group F game against Ulsan HD on Wednesday morning at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Recently, Masandawana confirmed their squad for the global competition. One notable name that was missing is that of Lucas Suarez, who joined the club in the January Transfer Window but on a six-month loan deal.
The Argentine started his stint at the club quite well, replacing the injured Mothobi Mvala effectively. His calmness and composure at the back impressed the fans, but the joy was shortlived, as the 30-year-old started making costly blunders at the back.
The most memorable was in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, against eventual champions Kaizer Chiefs, when his back-pass was intercepted by Wandile Duba who went to score an equaliser to help Amakhosi claim a 2-1 win.
‘Things didn't work out the way we wanted'
“Lucas Suarez is not with us, it’s not a taboo, it’s a normal information I can provide, so from the moment we didn’t move forward with his option,” coach Miguel Cardoso told the media.
“It’s a player that had his moments with us, we supported, but unfortunately, in the end, things didn’t work the way we wanted. it doesn’t mean he’s not a quality player, he is a quality player; also doesn’t mean that there was a mistake on being scouted.
“There wasn’t a mistake, the question is that the competition for centre-back is very tough in Mamelodi Sundowns, and the line is so thin in being very important or not being so important, and as a foreigner, that gives extra value.
“We evaluated him as a foreigner not as a centre-back and when you think about the composition of the squad in the future, eventually that’s where we stand on our position,” he concluded.
Suarez played 14 games for Masandawana and scored a goal in the process.
Sundowns favourites to beat Ulsan
Betway make Sundowns favourites against Ulsan in their first opening game of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Visit the site for the latest odds but make sure you check out the best Betway Sign-Up Code first.
Despite being tipped to win their first match, Sundowns are not fancied to go deep in the tournament — with only Wydad AC, Esperance de Tunis and Auckland City at longer outright odds.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are currently odds-on to win Group E, ahead of Fluminense, Ulsan and Sundowns.
