Abdelmounaim Boutouil looks set to return to Morocco with Wydad Athletic Club in the coming days.
The Moroccan defender has not been part of the Mamelodi Sundowns first-team squad training since the start of pre-season, initially arriving with an injury and expressing his desire to return home.
While there were disagreements initially about his valuation, sources have indicated the progress of termination has gone smoothly ahead of his return to the Botola Pro.
It wouldn’t be the first time the defender leaves a club due to alleged homesickness, having done the same during the Covid-19 pandemic with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Boutouil has agreed personal terms of a two-year deal with an option to extend by a further season, which will see him represent all of the ‘big three’ after stints with ASFAR and Raja Athletic Club prior to his move to Sundowns.
The robust defender was a regular under Rulani Mokwena, whom he is set to reunite with in North Africa and made 31 appearances for the club, scoring once since his move in July 2022 from SC Chabab Mohammédia.
Ironically, the new Wydad President Hicham Ait Menna was the club president of Mohammédia at the time of sanctioning his move to South Africa.
