Divided opinion on Pirates target Melgarejo
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Argentine midfielder Nahuel Melgarejo was spotted training with Orlando Pirates. Photo: Gallo Images
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Divided opinion on Pirates target Melgarejo
Aug 20, 2026 – 04:41 pm
By Thato Bosoga
After Mochudi Centre Chiefs midfielder Nahuel Melgarejo was spotted training with Orlando Pirates, KickOff has gathered insight on the Argentine.
Melgarejo’s photos and videos training with Pirates circulated at the beginning of the month, while the 22-year-old was also spotted in the stands at Orlando Amstel Arena, as indications are that he is undergoing an assessment at the Soweto giants.
This website spoke to a few sources in Botswana about the level of the Centre Chiefs attacker, who was previously in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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“I’ve seen him, he is not really an exciting player but Pirates are Pirates, maybe they know what they are going to do with him,” one source in Botswana noted.
“I don’t know if they are going to sign him, because what (Tshepang) Moremi can do, that guy can’t do. But if they sign him, they’ve signed other players (who were not high quality) before, we’ll see.”
A second source, however, was more complimentary and gave a descriptive detail of what Melgarejo is all about.
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“The guy is technically good, left-footed. He seemed too good for Botswana football. Most of the games he played he was deployed on the wide right side, always dangerous with combination play and cutting in,” the source said.
“He has the ability to assist defensively, the player is good (in my opinion).”
With most foreign players struggling at first with the quick and high tempo football of the PSL, another source doubted whether the transition can be seamless, if he is signed by Pirates.
“Football this side (in Botswana) is too slow, they like playing walking football, it’s not that quick but we’ll see,” the source said.
“Most players who impress here normally go to Morocco or anywhere in North Africa. From what I hear, (players from Botswana leagues feel) Morocco is similar to Botswana, they don’t like running a lot but we’ll see.”
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