Thalente Mbatha, a midfielder for Orlando Pirates, has already drawn interest from European teams in just his first half of the season. Two teams, including a prominent English Championship club, have indicated considerable interest in the former SuperSport United player, according to insider information.
After Mbatha put on strong performances in Spain during the preseason, talk about him started to circulate. Three clubs first made inquiries about the midfielder, who was born in KwaZulu-Natal, but a Championship club is currently showing the most interest. “It all began when they returned from Spain for the preseason. Initially, three teams expressed interest in him; however, at this time, I can only reveal that the primary team is from the Championship.
A second source suggests that Orlando Pirates are unlikely to split ways with Mbatha at this time, despite the European interest. “As you can see, the club is not yet prepared to sell or release Mbatha and Tshegofatso Mabasa. They will be the team’s pillar going forward, and the management and technical staff want them to be a part of the group as they compete for league titles and go further in the CAF Champions League. Thus, yes, I can confirm that there is interest, but the source clarified that they won’t let him go unless the money is extremely attractive.
In similar news, a North African club is showing a lot of interest in Orlando Pirates forward Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was previously linked to moves to Mamelodi Sundowns and Romania. According to people close to Mabasa and Pirates, they have been keeping a close eye on his performance and are getting ready to make an offer. Officials from the club recently attended the second leg of the CAF Champions League between Mabasa and Disciples FC at Orlando Stadium. They have been monitoring his development for a while now. The insider stated, “They are pleased with him and his performance after keeping an eye on him. To prevent interfering with the current procedure, the identity of the North African club is kept under wraps.
Orlando Pirates will have to make important decisions about their future as European and North African teams show interest in both Thalente Mbatha and Tshegofatso Mabasa. The club’s chances of winning on the local and continental fronts will largely depend on its ability to keep these important players.
As the rising star of the Orlando Pirates shines bright enough for British suitors to see, keep checking The South African for further updates.
