Midfielder Matias Esquivel is returning to Mamelodi Sundowns after he was released from his loan contract by Greek Super League side AE Kifisia FC.
The Argentine joined Kifisia in August on a season-long loan deal but he will not be completing the 2025/26 term in Greece. This comes after he struggled for game time and could not score or provide an assist in eight appearances across all competitions.
The termination of his loan deal brings an end to a difficult period which was his first time to play in Europe. Kifisia had the first option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
“Kifisia FC announces the mutual consent termination of its collaboration with Matias Eduardo Esquivel. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in the rest of his career,” Kifisia confirmed releasing Esquivel.
ESQUIVEL’S BIG TASK TO CONVINCE SUNDOWNS COACH CARDOSO
Returning to Sundowns against the background of an unsuccessful stint in Greece might provide another challenge for the player. Since arriving at Chloorkop in January 2024 from Argentinian side CA Lanus, Esquivel has been sent out on loan twice by Masandawana.
Just seven months after joining Sundowns, he was loaned out to CA Talleres before returning to Chloorkop after just five months. But the 26-year-old struggled to muscle his way into coach Miguel Cardoso’s plans, leading to the Kifisia move.
The Portuguese coach criticised Esquivel’s work rate at training, saying the player did not do enough to convince him of handing him some game time.
“Matias is a player that came to Sundowns not with me but with Mr Rulani Mokwena,” Cardoso explained Esquivel’s situation back in August.
“So he didn’t have a chance to play, and he went back to Argentina [in the first round of last season]. I have nothing to do with him coming to the club, so don’t put pressure on me regarding Esquivel.
“But Matias is a very good player, and you’ll see that he will succeed where he’s going. It’s not only me who didn’t give him the time to play, even coach Rulani.
“But also, Matias didn’t persevere to show that he wants to play, that is done by training hard because a player needs to show you at training that he’s better than the ones who are playing in his position.”
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