{"id":30151,"date":"2025-09-23T14:11:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T12:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=30151"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:49:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:49:04","slug":"mamelodi-sundowns-sign-nuno-santos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mamelodi-sundowns-sign-nuno-santos\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamelodi Sundowns\u2019 Silent Window Ends with a Roar as Nuno Santos Arrives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Mamelodi Sundowns have completed a dramatic deadline-day signing, securing Portuguese playmaker Nuno Santos in a deal worth around R20 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The move ends the champions\u2019 quiet transfer window with a bold statement, as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of another demanding season in the <strong>Betway Premiership<\/strong> and <strong>CAF Champions League<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud835\udde1\ud835\udde8\ud835\udde1\ud835\udde2 \ud835\udde6\ud835\uddd4\ud835\udde1\ud835\udde7\ud835\udde2\ud835\udde6 \ud835\udddd\ud835\udde2\ud835\udddc\ud835\udde1\ud835\udde6 \ud835\udde7\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddd8 \ud835\udddb\ud835\udde2\ud835\udde0\ud835\uddd8 \ud835\udde2\ud835\uddd9 \ud835\udde7\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddd8 \ud835\uddd6\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddd4\ud835\udde0\ud835\udde3\ud835\udddc\ud835\udde2\ud835\udde1\ud835\udde6 \ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udfc6<br><br>Masandawana is proud to welcome Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to the club! \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9<br><br>Drop a comment welcoming our latest signing! \u2b07<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Sundowns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Sundowns<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WelcomeNuno?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WelcomeNuno<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AreyengMasandawana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#AreyengMasandawana<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OBV4vrZJgS\">pic.twitter.com\/OBV4vrZJgS<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Masandawana\/status\/1970205284187459942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 22, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sundowns-quiet-window-strategy\">Sundowns\u2019 Quiet Window Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Head coach <strong>Miguel Cardoso<\/strong> made it clear he wanted a leaner, more efficient squad. This led to Sundowns adopting a restrained approach in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-players-in\">Players In:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Fawaaz Basadien<\/em> \u2013 Left-back from Stellenbosch FC<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Katlego \u2018Tsiki\u2019 Ntsabeleng<\/em> \u2013 Midfielder on loan from FC Dallas (MLS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-players-out\">Players Out:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>High-profile exits included Sipho Mbule, Lebohang Maboe, Rivaldo Coetzee, Rushine De Reuck, Sifiso Ngobeni, Neo Maema, Thembinkosi Lorch, Lucas Suarez, Thabang Sibanyoni, and Sanele Tshabalala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most painful departure was <strong>Lucas Ribeiro Costa<\/strong>, last season\u2019s star forward who forced a move to Spain\u2019s Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa after a stellar campaign (21 goals, 14 assists in 51 games).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1910071001\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nuno-santos-a-deadline-day-masterstroke\">Nuno Santos: A Deadline-Day Masterstroke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sundowns confirmed the signing late on Monday night with the statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cMasandawana is proud to welcome Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to the club.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-santos-profile\">Santos\u2019 Profile:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Former clubs: Benfica, Charlotte FC, Vit\u00f3ria de Guimar\u00e3es<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Career stats: 90 matches for Guimar\u00e3es, 8 goals, 16 assists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International: Represented Portugal U16 to U21<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Honours: UEFA U17 European Championship winner (2019)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At <strong>26 years old<\/strong>, Santos brings flair, creativity, and versatility. He can operate as a number 10 or as an inverted winger, offering the tactical flexibility Cardoso craves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud835\uddd4 \ud835\udde1\ud835\uddd8\ud835\uddea \ud835\uddd9\ud835\uddd4\ud835\uddd6\ud835\uddd8, \ud835\uddd4 \ud835\udde1\ud835\uddd8\ud835\uddea \ud835\uddd6\ud835\udddb\ud835\uddd4\ud835\udde3\ud835\udde7\ud835\uddd8\ud835\udde5 \ud83d\udd25<br><br>Yellow Nation &#8211; let&#39;s welcome the skilful &amp; dynamic Nuno Santos to the Home of the Champions! \u26a1\ud83c\udfc6 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Sundowns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Sundowns<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WelcomeNuno?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WelcomeNuno<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AreyengMasandawana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#AreyengMasandawana<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/R5K4ehp8XW\">pic.twitter.com\/R5K4ehp8XW<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Masandawana\/status\/1970202193522278556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 22, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-santos-replace-ribeiro\">Can Santos Replace Ribeiro?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ribeiro\u2019s exit left a glaring hole in Sundowns\u2019 attack. His achievements included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PSL Footballer of the Season<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Players\u2019 Player of the Season<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Golden Boot winner<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Goal of the Season award<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Santos may not be a direct like-for-like replacement, but his vision, dribbling skills, and ability to score from distance give <a href=\"https:\/\/sundownsfc.co.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sundowns<\/a> fresh attacking options. His European experience and proven creativity could soften the blow of Ribeiro\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">First day of training as a Sandawana! \ud83d\ude4c<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Sundowns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Sundowns<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BetwayPrem?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#BetwayPrem<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AreyengMasandawana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#AreyengMasandawana<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KsRw9SnVsl\">pic.twitter.com\/KsRw9SnVsl<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Masandawana\/status\/1970438583489110167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 23, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2514048631\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-this-signing-matters\">Why This Signing Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tactical Depth<\/strong> \u2013 Gives Cardoso flexibility in midfield and attack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Continental Ambitions<\/strong> \u2013 A key signing as Sundowns chase CAF Champions League glory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fan Excitement<\/strong> \u2013 Adds a new dimension to Masandawana\u2019s play.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Statement of Intent<\/strong> \u2013 Shows Sundowns can still attract international-calibre players despite a quiet market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Check also: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mamelodi-sundowns-close-in-on-portuguese-duo\/\">Mamelodi Sundowns close in on Portuguese duo to bolster squad<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The signing of <strong>Nuno Santos<\/strong> marks a turning point in Sundowns\u2019 transfer window. After weeks of silence, the champions ended with a roar, securing a European-trained playmaker with the potential to become a star in the PSL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Santos adapts quickly, he could be the spark that keeps Sundowns at the top of South African football while helping them push for continental success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamelodi Sundowns ended a quiet transfer window with a major coup, signing Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to replace Lucas Ribeiro Costa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":30154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Mamelodi Sundowns ended a quiet transfer window with a major coup, signing Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos to replace Lucas Ribeiro Costa.","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[11118,11108,360],"class_list":{"0":"post-30151","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news","9":"tag-latest-football-news","10":"tag-latest-sports-news","11":"tag-mamelodi-sundowns"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30158,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30151\/revisions\/30158"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}