‘Not even a cup team in America’ – Broos slams Mbokazi’s agent over Chicago transfer

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has expressed his disappointment by the transfer of Mbekezeli Mbokazi to MLS club Chicago Fire.

Mbokazi completed the move to the MLS last month with the move subsequently announced by the American club and the 20-year-old is set to link up with his new team after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

While some have lauded the transfer, Broos is among those who feel Mbokazi made the wrong move, blaming the player’s agent for rushing the defender abroad when he had the chance to sign for a top team in Europe if he stayed patient.

Broos hits at ‘not so clever’ agent

“I think, no [it’s not a good move]. What is he going to do in Chicago?” Broos said on Wednesday when he slammed the player for arriving late in camp.

“It’s not even a cup team in America. If my info is right, they told me he’s playing MLS2, at the second team of Chicago – if it’s true, I don’t know I will ask him when I see him. That is even worse.

“But I know what happened, a woman who is his agent and thinks she knows football is doing what many agents are doing and thinking ‘how much can I get’. If she is a little bit clever, she knows there is AFCON and next year it’s World Cup, that there will be other teams, better for his career, to go to and not to Chicago.

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐬 𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐓 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐛𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐳𝐢’𝐬 𝐔𝐒𝐀 🇺🇸 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞

Bafana Bafana Head Coach Hugo Broos is NOT happy with Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s move to USA 🇺🇸 – insisting he could’ve gotten a bigger club or move AFTER the World Cup #BafanaBafana #HugoBroos #Mbokazi pic.twitter.com/vDLAyyXKtz

— Karabo Selebalo Phasha (@TheeSportsGuy01) December 10, 2025

“What is he going to do there alone there in a big city like that? So no, I don’t think it’s a good choice.”

What did Mbokazi’s representative say?

Mbokazi reportedly joined Chicago Fire for $3 million (R51 million) and his agent Basia Michaels has defended the move by revealing that it was the best that he could choose from after a European club valued him lowly.

Them: “Mbokazi’s agent failed him, why didn’t she move the boy to Europe instead of USA”

Also European teams: 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/OiUK7L9NgK

— B.E.N.Z.O (@Benzo_Ndlovu) December 4, 2025

“I get it,” Michaels said over the criticism of the transfer on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified. “But once again, I will go back to that point to say I don’t think there’s only one way of handling this.”

“I will give an example; I had a scout from Europe, he offered me €150,000 (around R2 million) for Mbokazi and the €150,000 was the end of our conversation,” she revealed.

Broos’ sentiments confirm fears that Mbokazi could lose his place in the national team following the move to America as the veteran tactician does not rate the MLS and it remains to be seen if the defender will get opportunities in Bafana Bafana when he moves to America.