Wayne Arendse thinks that Mamelodi Sundowns made an error in parting ways with Ricardo Nascimento.
The 35-year-old made way for recent signing Erwin Saveerda, with the other foreign quota spots filled by Gaston Sirino, Pavol Safranko, Divine Lunga and Peter Shalulile,
Nascimento featured in 144 matches for the Chloorkop side, scoring 17 goals and providing two assists, which helped the club win four consecutive PSL league titles as well as one CAF Super Cup title.
Arendse has previously spoken of how he felt older players were being discarded too easily and is adamant that Nascimento could still have done a job in the DStv Premiership.
Arendse, who was also released by Sundowns in 2020, after years of service, at the age of 35, told KickOff: “I can’t talk on behalf of Sundowns, but Ricardo was never the fastest or the quickest but he is a good defender.
“He reads the game well and his experience could have also helped in the Champions League.
Farewell don Ricardo Nascimento
— Secret Agent (@SecretAgent_20) February 7, 2022
This is possibly one of the greatest set up you'll ever see from a center back
King @r_nascimento05 💛 pic.twitter.com/Lf7VjyOy7R
“Champions League is another kettle of fish because you got Al Ahly in your group, you got big teams there.
“So, I think his experience could have helped, it’s all I can say. For me, I wouldn’t say it’s the right decision or it was a wrong decision, I would have kept him for the remainder of the season, but then again it comes with the quota of the foreigners.
“They needed to decide on someone because they can only have a certain number. Maybe they felt they needed more in the attacking department.
“So I think they would have kept him if it wasn’t for the foreign quota. They were caught between a defender and an attacker and they opted for the attacker.”
Sundowns are next in action in the CAF Champions League against Al Hilal on Friday.
