Motaung wishes Masango well after signing Danish deal

Mandla Masango‚ who was reportedly holding out for a hefty salary package during his failed negotiations with Kaizer Chiefs‚ received a “satisfactory” offer from his new Danish club Randers FC.

This was a claim made by family friend and lawyer‚ Maurizio Mariano‚ on Thursday.

Randers confirmed on their website that the Bafana Bafana winger had signed a three-year deal‚ ending speculation over Masango’s future since his contract saga with Premier League champions Chiefs began two months ago.

The player‚ along with his then teammates Itumeleng Khune and Tefu Mashamaite‚ were slated by Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung for making unreasonable salary demands.

Khune and the club later kissed and made up‚ while Mashamaite joined Swedish side BK Hacken last week.

“An agent in Australia [Masango was dumped by his long- time representative Walter Mokoena] dealt with this particular contract and when Mandla said the offer seemed attractive‚ I then became involved to check the legalities. He is very close to me and my family‚ and being a lawyer I assisted him‚” said Mariano‚ who disputed that Masango’s demands‚ believed to have been a request for a 100% salary increase‚ were irrational.

“He was always interested in playing for Chiefs‚ but the thing that pushed him the most was playing in Europe. There was no stand-off at Chiefs. The decision was always in Mandla’s hands as a young man. To say he got a satisfactory offer in Denmark sounds about right. I have a strong network in Italy and I have been told that playing in the Danish Premier League is a stepping stone for even greater things because people look at you there.”

Shortly after Chiefs announced that goalkeeper Khune would be rejoining them before the new season kicked off‚ the club also stated that negotiations with Masango were ongoing. Bobby Motaung‚ the Amakhosi football manager‚ suggested Masango opted for Denmark instead of a return to Naturena.

“He got an overseas offer and he took it‚” Motaung said.

“I don’t want to discuss too many things‚ but to say we wish him the best in Denmark because he served us well for the past eight years and it is always good for SA players to move abroad. It is a stepping stone.” – The Times