‘Prestigious teams calling’: Mbokazi’s agent on global interest, says no concrete offers yet

Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s agent Basia Michaels has revealed there have been enquiries from prestigious clubs for the Bafana Bafana and Chicago Fire defender after an impressive maiden Fifa World Cup for the 20-year-old.

Mbokazi was one of the standout performers for South Africa in their historic 2026 FIFA World Cup run, where they progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time.

The defender remained rock solid against some of the world’s best attacking players, not losing composure and winning most of his duels as he made an impression.

Michaels said her agency has received enquiries about the 20-year-old, but there have not been concrete offers yet, contrary to what many reports have suggested.

Reports have linked Mbokazi to Premier League club Nottingham Forest and teams in Belgium and Italy, including Napoli, but ESPN has quoted sources saying Chicago Fire have not received official offers yet.

“There have been enquiries. There haven’t been offers. I haven’t received a single offer in writing. I have had a lot of enquiries from really great teams, prestigious teams,” Michaels told Sportsboom.

“I really never imagined speaking to some of the people I’m speaking to right now. But they are enquiries.”

The agent said most important is to find the right club and league for Mbokazi at the right price. She said the Orlando Pirates youth product believes he is good enough to play in some of the world’s best leagues.

“Mbokazi has had a great [World Cup] campaign. The club has to be the right club. The league has to be the right league.

“The price has to be the right price because Chicago Fire bought him. The evaluation of the player and what they’re willing to pay the player has to be what we want to accept.

“For me the most important thing is to find him in a top five league. I believe Mbokazi deserves to play in the [Uefa] Champions League, there’s no question about it.

“I also believe he deserves fair value. I’ve explained it before, where I want a certain figure for him and then it’s like, ‘No, he can’t get that’.

“Why not? Because other people are getting it. Be it that they’re European or from North America, South America, wherever it is. The reality is I want fair value for him.

“Yes, he is a South African. Yes, he is a young man from a very rural area, that’s all great. But his playing ability has improved in leaps and bounds.

“Ultimately, that’s why I want fair value for him.”