AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy has confirmed that Facundo Juarez was his main transfer target this season.
Meanwhile, with the transfer window nearing its end, Usuthu and McCarthy are without the South American in their team.
McCarthy revealed in an interview with the SA Football Journalists’ Association that the forward was still under contract.
“Obviously he was the star signing, the marquee signing that I wanted. But unfortunately, we learnt last minute that he still had six more months on his deal and their coach didn’t want to lose the player,” the coach explained.
The 27-year-old from Uruguayan will be a free agent at the end of December, unless something drastic happens and his current club, Club Atletico Mitre, offers him a contract extension.
McCarthy doesn’t think that will be the case, however.
“Our plans got kicked out a little bit with trying to bring him now at the start of the season. He is the ideal player that I wanted, and I think he would have made a massive difference in the team – goals and everything, he has got the works,” the coach said in an interview.
“I am still hopeful that the club can still back me in that decision. If we don’t find a recognized striker now before the window closes, then I will definitely wait until December to bring this player in and we can go for the jugular. He is a player that I love very much, has got great tenacity, has an aura about him and the experience of playing in South America. He has come highly recommended.”
“A very good source of mine that put me on to this player has led me to believe that we were on to something here and I have watched him play a few times. December couldn’t come any sooner. I am in constant contact with our president (Sandile Zungu), so we are keeping tabs on him and when his contract runs out then he can come join our ranks,” explained McCarthy.
“The beauty of Facundo is that he is a natural left and right winger, then a natural striker and can play as a No. 10 – so he covers four positions. He is good at all of them, and that gives you a different edge and you add more goals to your team even with another recognized striker. He is such a key component.”
AmaZulu are yet to win from their two games in the DSTV Premiership this season and find themselves in 12th place going into the international break.