Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Neo Maema was nearly snapped up by DStv Premiership rivals before he joined the club at the start of the 2021/22 season.
The left-footed midfielder has been an integral part of the Sundowns team, knuckling down a regular place in the starting line-up.
He played a vital role in the current campaign to help Sundowns clinch their sixth league title in a row.
The 27-year-old has amassed 35 games for the Brazilians in all competitions. He has managed to score seven goals while contributing four assists.
With Maema being one of the best talents in the PSL, Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed the club Maema nearly joined while at Celtics.
RULANI MOKWENA REVEALS THE CLUB THAT NEARLY SIGNED NEO MAEMA
“Neo [Maema] is a top professional, highly intelligent and hard working for a player as talented as he is,” Mokwena told the media at Chloorkop.
“He’s got an incredible work ethic and also extremely versatile. He can play as a ten, as a nine, and he can also play as an eight. He can also play on the left and right.
“So when we’re in the offensive position, Neo takes this little bit of a multifaceted type of profile because of his intelligence.
“Also, he’s a very good person, the talks with Neo have always been there from a previous club, I mean the previous club [Chippa United] that I spent six months.
“I didn’t get a chance to bring anybody because there was Covid-19. But there were talks to bring him in there.
“Fortunately, when we got the opportunity to bring him to Sundowns, it was a move that was endorsed by the football club, and he’s here now.
“He’s one of the players who work very hard to try and help us achieve our objectives,” he added.
The Tshwane giants welcome Algerian side CR Belouizdad at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. They meet in the second leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday, 29th of April.
Downs were 4-1 victors in the first leg away in Algeria last weekend and have one foot in the semifinal.
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