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The Brazilians have already signed seven new players heading into the 2020-21 season, but where will the trio fit in?
After months of negotiations, Mamelodi Sundowns finally landed Gift Motupa, Ricardo Goss and Haashim Domingo from Bidvest Wits.
Motupa had been on the radar of the Tshwane giants since the beginning of the year.
In fact, the former Orlando Pirates man could have moved to Chloorkop during the January transfer window, but the Students chose not to let him go because they considered him an important member of the team.
However, the sale of Wits to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) made things easier for them to eventually reach a deal, and Motupa has now joined the club along with two of his teammates in Goss and Domingo.
But how will Pitso Mosimane use the trio in his starting Sundowns lineup next season?
4-4-2
Goss is seen as a long-term replacement for Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene, who have been the Sundowns’ top two goalkeepers for nearly a decade.
However, he is expected to be given playing time to be on the same level as the two veteran blockers, and his position is simple.
Motupa, on the other hand, is more effective as a second striker, but can play as number 9.
He has goals in him after scoring 12 times for the Estudiantes last season, and if he partners with someone who can congratulate him in advance, Mosimane can be sure of goals that have been hard to come by from his trusted forwards in the past. .
Domingo also plays second striker but can be dangerous coming from deep due to his pace and ability to knock out defenses.
In a 4-4-2 system, Domingo can play alongside Motupa with the two alternating because they have the strength to carry the ball forward while the other can stay and wait for the supply.
4-3-3
Due to the depth of his team, Mosimane may opt for a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate both Motupa and Domingo while keeping the core of his team in the starting lineup.
The duo can come from the right and left side of the attack with Mauricio Affonso as center forward.
What would make Sundowns unstoppable is the fact that both Motupa and Domingo can create goals for their teammates in the same way that Gaston Sirino and Themba Zwane have done in recent seasons.
The responsibility for the goals will now be shared among all and not depend on a specific player.
4-2-2-2
In this formation, Mosimane can decide to play with both Motupa and Domingo right in front of his defensive midfielders as a link between the midfield and the forwards.
And this would help the duo adjust to their surroundings at Sundowns while continually learning what Mosimane expects of them.
Of course, there are players in those positions already, but Mosimane understands that he may not always have them available or in top form and therefore he will need to gradually introduce them into the setup without compromising results and his philosophy.
4-2-3-1
Motupa can be played as a lone striker just like when Lebohang Maboe used to be used two seasons ago with players like Sirino, Zwane and Domingo behind him.
With players like George Maluleka and Lesedi Kapinga also on the squad, Mosimane has a variety of options in midfield as all of these players are capable of bonding with the main striker while simultaneously creating and scoring goals.
Domingo can play left, right or middle, and the way the technical team uses him will be interesting given that José Ali Meza recently improved his game and did so brilliantly as an attacking midfielder from the wings.
