Snl24 | Blanks to equal trouble for Downs’ expensive signing?

Arthur Sales is still without a goal since his big money move to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Brazilian striker Arthur de Oliveira Sales played his 10th game without scoring on Tuesday as he continues struggling to break the ice at Mamelodi Sundowns.

If it has been a start that Sales has desired, then that is what he was given in the CAF Champions League group stage opener against Congolese club AS Maniema Union at Loftus Versfeld.

READ: Nabi speaks out on Miguel’s situation at Chiefs

Sales lasted 72 minutes before he made way for Peter Shalulile as Sundowns sought to penetrate the Congolese.

With the Tshwane giants having spent as much as R60 million in bringing the lanky striker to Chloorkop, it is normal that concerns would be raised when he has reached 10 appearances without a goal.

He was snapped up from Belgian second division club SK Lommel during the off-season becoming the most expensive transfer in the history of domestic football.

For a R60 million striker, goals aplenty is what has been expected from the 22-year-old, yet he hasn’t delivered any to date, which will give his critics good reason to label him with nasty names.

As Sales goes through negotiating the scoring questions on his head, this is not a new matter for him.

Besides playing in the top two-tier leagues in Brazil, where he only scored once, the lanky marksman ended his time in the Portuguese Primera Liga without goals from a dozen appearances. 

His best returns came playing for Lommel in the Belgian Second Division last season with 10 goals to his name.

READ: ‘It’s one of the strangest things I’ve heard in football’

He also scored eight in his first spell in the Belgian promotional league, which usually features the reserve teams of the big teams in that country.

Without a win in consecutive games for the second time this season, Sundowns need a clinical effect up front to finish all the opportunities that they create, and Sales must take the responsibility as an expensive signing. 

Get the best in Soccer, News and Lifestyle content with SNL24 PLUS

For 14 free days, you can have access to the best from Soccer Laduma, KickOff, Daily Sun, TrueLove and Drum. Thereafter you will be billed R29 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won’t be billed.