Former South Africa international warns Mamelodi Sundowns stars against moving to Europe after inspiring FIFA Club World Cup show - 'If you go and things don't work out for you, your stock drops'

Former South Africa international Kyle Timm has cautioned Mamelodi Sundowns players against hasty European moves.

Timm believes a wrong move to a European club is a big gamble because things might fail to work, and that will make a player's value drop in the marketplace.

"From the outside, it's easy to say, 'Just go to Europe,' but if you go to Europe and things don't work out for you, your stock drops. It's complex; it's not easy to just pack your bags and go to Europe. Another country, you have to adjust and all that; it's not always going to work out, even if you're a good player," Timm told Soccer Laduma.

"Two or three years, it didn't work out. Who is going to take you back at the same price? But I'd love to see them playing at the highest level," he added.

Timm, a coach at American club Lexington Sporting, believes there should be little motivation for Sundowns players to level because they are well remunerated at the club.

"I think there'll be clubs that would be open to inviting some Sundowns players for assessment, but the challenge is, will the club let them go for an assessment?" he posed.

"One of the biggest challenges for Sundowns in particular: what are the players leaving the club for? These guys are making good money, they are at home, they're comfortable, the team is winning, and they're playing in the Club World Cup," he continued.

"Some of these clubs in Europe, I'm not talking Dortmund level, not everywhere in Europe, they are paying crazy amounts of money. It's hard to say the (Sundowns) players lack ambition because at the end of the day it's their lives, they're comfortable, they are playing, and they are happy."

Although Masandawana failed to reach the Round of 16, their performance at the FIFA Club World Cup was inspiring: one win, one draw, and a loss.

Their determination was particularly visible against Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund as they fought and almost came out with a remarkable comeback. It was not possible in the end, as they fell to a 4-3 defeat.

Given their show in the United States, Sundowns' players are expected to attract offers from top clubs around the world.

Already, Lucas Ribeiro, the scorer of the opening goal against Dortmund, has been linked with Saint-Etienne of France.

Particularly, Ribeiro and Iqraam Rayners are set to attract many suitors because they individually shone. Rayners scored two goals: one in the opening game against Ulsan HD before finding the back of the net against Dortmund.

Masandawana have been impressive from the Premier Soccer League to the CAF Champions League, and this will naturally make their players attractive to other clubs.