Mamelodi Sundowns sharpshooter Gaston Sirino has shot down and debunked the claim by Pitso Mosimane that he is heartbroken at not joining his erstwhile coach at Egypt's Al Ahly.

Instead of being bitterly disappointed that the transfer negotiations for him to join Al Ahly had broken down - as claimed by Mosimane - the clearly delighted, ball-weaving, 29-year-old Uruguayan pronounced he was over the moon to be back in the colours of the PSL champions after a delayed start to the season because of injuries.

Sundowns, for their part, have not hidden their desire to hold onto the player who was desperately close - and unlucky in the eyes of many - not to be chosen the PSL's 2020 "Footballer of the Year", with the Brazilians, as they are known, warding off interest by the Egyptian champions with suggestions of potentially prohibitive transfer figures that sent them scurrying back in the direction of the Nile.

And, with a typically polished display and a goal to boot, Sirino further indicated his value to the championship-topping Mamelodi club he has helped guide to three successive Premiership titles in the weekend's 2-0 win against Chippa United.

Mosimane, for his part, claims he was not instrumental in initiating Al Ahly's bid for Sirino at the cost to Sundowns and that the Egyptians had shown an interest in the Uruguayan before he had himself joined the Cairo club.

"Naturally I would like to have a player of his skill with me," added Mosimane, "and I believe he would also have received greater exposure - and thereby furthered his career internationally - had he come to Al Ahly."

Despite several impressive seasons in both Uruguayan and Bolivian Leagues before coming to South Africa, Sirino has yet to receive international recognition from Uruguay, for which he remains eligible for his South American country..

It has also been suggested that because he has not played for Uruguay, he would be eligible to play for Bafana Bafana if he remained here and obtained South African citizenship.

A player of Sirino's class would undoubtedly be an asset to any South African team, although Bafana officials have thus far provided no evidence they are looking in this direction.

Source: News24