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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rivaldo Coetzee says he won't give up hope of moving to Europe despite a dream-shattering off-season transfer debacle.
Coetzee, 21, was set for a dream move to Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic with a promise of regular first-team football for the burgeoning Bafana Bafana talent.
However, at the last minute the deal was called off as the then Ajax Cape Town defender failed his medical with the Group stage qualified Champions League club.
With the move falling through, Masandawana picked up the 19-time capped South Africa international on a reported Premiership record transfer but after undergoing surgery on his foot, he's yet to make his official debut for the club.
"Obviously, I was disappointed. I was imagining myself playing the Champions League and I even spoke to the manager, Brendan Rodgers, about joining them," he told the Daily Record website.
"He made me feel that he wanted me in - the way he spoke to me, he made it clear that I was in his plans.
"We spoke on the phone while I was doing my medical. He said I was his kind of a player, one that can play out from the back and is comfortable on the ball. And I can also defend as well.
"I want to go to Europe as soon as possible," added Coetzee. "If I come back from injury and play for six months or a year, then I would like to go. I don’t want to suggest a time-frame because everything happens in its own time.
"If you talk about a time-frame and nothing happens, then you will be disappointed. I will just give it time and see what happens."
