South African league’s best player Percy Tau’s worry over his future has been finally eased after offering a groveling apology to parent club Mamelodi Sundowns.
Tau has been touted with a move away from The Brazilians –Mamdelodi’s nickname – including Belgian champions Club Brugge but understandably paid particular attention to interest from newly promoted English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
The involvement of any EPL outfit in a transfer saga is bound to generate huge cash and erstwhile African champions Mamelodi were understood to be digging their heels over giving into the advances easily, aimed at getting Brighton to fork out more sums.
Irked by the slow process with which the deal is being handled amid growing fears Albion could pull the plug off the negotiations, Percy’s agent Mmatsatsi Sefalafala leaked it to the media that Sundowns are demanding far more than the €2m fee lodged by the EPL team.
Adding to the furore, a seething Percy went AWOL and skipped training in the process in a bid to force his club to accept the offer.
Sundowns risked losing the 24-year-old going on a free with the WitBank-born player’s deal with them to elapse next year.
Consequently, the South African champions were prompted to reverse their stance but not after owner Patrice Motsepe asked agent Sefalafala and his client to release a groveling apology.
The SA club dispatched a statement hours ago granting Albion the go-ahead to seal a move.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Mamelodi Sundowns is pleased to announce that the President of Mamelodi Sundowns Dr. Patrice Motsepe gave instructions to the Management to finalize the deal with Brighton & Hove Albion FC (Brighton) after Percy Tau and his agent came to see him and apologised for disclosing confidential information to the media and for Percy Tau not reporting for training,”[/perfectpullquote]
the club said.
€2m is a record transfer fee in the Rainbow nation’s domestic championship.
The attacking midfielder starred in twenty-nine of the sanctioned PSL 30 games, scoring eleven times and getting booked twice.
Capable of unlocking defences with his passes, the Bafana Bafana man won five titles including a golden boot prize.
Brighton are yet to announce finalization of the South African’s switch but are believed to be in front of the queue for the midfielder’s signature having seen off overtures from Westbrom Albion.
