Orlando Pirates have set the record straight amid exit rumours of their two key players, Monnapule Saleng and Patrick Maswanganyi.
Saleng and Maswanganyi have been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with reports suggesting both players could be on their way out of Pirates during the current January transfer window.
The attacking duo have been instrumental figures for Pirates, but Saleng has surprisingly seen limited game time in recent matches.
While he has netted five goals in 13 appearances this season, including three in the Betway Premiership, his contributions have been sporadic since late last year.
Saleng made only a brief cameo appearance in a 1-0 league victory against Richards Bay FC in November and played the full 90 minutes in Pirates’ 1-1 CAF Champions League draw against Al Ahly at Orlando Stadium in December.
Reports suggest that Saleng has missed multiple training sessions, with an agent, Rui Fros, revealing that Pirates declined an offer from Saudi club Al Nasr, which would have secured the player earnings of $700,000 [R13m] for his first year.
Meanwhile, Maswanganyi is reportedly being pursued by his former club, UD Oliveirense, who are considering bringing him back into the Portuguese second tier.
He has also lacked consistent playing time for Pirates, making only 22 appearances this season. The attacking midfielder has recorded two goals and one assist this campaign.
NO TRUTH TO SALENG AND MASWANGANYI TRANSFER RUMOURS
However, Pirates have vehemently denied these reports, stating that no official offers have been received for either player. The club has expressed concern that these unsubstantiated rumours are creating unnecessary distractions for the team and misleading the public.
“Ordinarily, the Club refrains from engaging with baseless rumours aimed at creating unnecessary sensationalism and clickbait. However, the persistence and escalation of these unsubstantiated claims now compel us to set the record straight,” reads the Pirates statement.
“The misinformation began with a fabricated story regarding Monnapule Saleng, alleging that the club had denied the player a lucrative transfer opportunity to a team in the Middle East. Initially, we chose to disregard this as yet another false narrative meant to explain the player’s temporary absence from the playing squad. Unfortunately, the story has since gained unwarranted traction, even being picked up by some mainstream media outlets.
“Pirates categorically denies ever receiving any offer from a Middle Eastern club for the services of Monnapule Saleng. “Let it be clear: The club does not conduct its business in malls. No official from Orlando Pirates Football Club has spoken to Mr. Rui Frois regarding this matter.”
The Soweto giants also addressed rumours surrounding Maswanganyi, linked with a move to a Portuguese club on January 20th. Reports suggested a potential transfer fee of R40 million for the midfielder.
“Once again, the Club categorically rejects this as sheer gossip,” added Pirates. “No such offer has been presented to the Club.
“It is deeply troubling that these baseless stories are not only misleading but also serve to disrupt the focus of our players and destabilise the team. This is entirely unacceptable.”
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