Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo believes Relebohile Mofokeng should not hesitate to join FC Barcelona’s B, if there is any real interest after rumours earlier in the season.
Mofokeng has been one of the standout players for Orlando Pirates this season, and he was linked with the Spanish giants by some in the local football fraternity.
Even though those talks have long dried down, and the 20-year-old last wanted by Egyptian giants Zamalek, Khumalo has discussed a potential move to Spain with iDiski Times journalist Matshelane Mamabolo.
“Come on guys! As a nation, when are we going to pride ourselves with having released youngsters to go overseas and learn? Let’s allow Rele to go,” he stated.
“Let’s not have fear. If Barca could take a young and even sickly Messi out of Argentina and groom him into the world superstar he became, why do we not trust them to do the same with Rele?
“On paper, we know Barcelona is a big team, but I don’t think those guys are going to throw him into the deep end. My reading of it is that they’ve spotted his potential, and they want him now so they can get him ready for the senior team in two years’ time.
“So, he will be with the B team to learn and understand the culture and the norms of Barcelona. That’s what they did for Messi, because he was just a player who had that disease, and they helped him medically and sportingly. All their top players at Barca, your Iniesta, Xavi and Puyol, come from the development.
“And I can tell you from experience that Rele will benefit from it. I went to Argentina, which was already established, but when I got there, they had me work with a physical trainer for three weeks, a three hour session daily to get me fitter. I remember when I came back home I’d bulked up and my parents did not recognise me.
“I think the Barcelona guys are not stupid, they are going to make sure that this boy is exactly what Yamal is – he is not a big boy, but physically, he is able to take opponents on, and Rele will be able to do that. We must let the players go if the opportunity comes because they are very rare. How can you say no to Barcelona?
“This could be a really historical moment for South African football, and I hope whatever third force that might be against Rele moving there gets released. Forget that it is only the B side; they are not signing him for today; they are looking at tomorrow. They’ve seen potential, and they know what they want to do with it.”
