Abdelmounaim Boutouil made his Sundowns debut during their CAF Champions League second preliminary round second leg against La Passe.
Masandawana won that match 8-1 and progressed to group stages after a 15-1 aggregate score.
According to Mngqithi Boutouil possesses the same attributes as former Downs defender Ricardo Nascimento who is now plying his trade at the Royal AM.
“Technically he’s unbelievable, he makes less mistakes, he’s got a full range of passing, short, medium or long,” Mngqithi told Mamelodi Sundowns website.
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“[He makes] passes that break lines and passes that are targeting in the opposite 8, passes that are tagging the opposite wing back or full backs and he can find the striker very easily. Technically you can not falter anything from him and he’s also very good on set pieces.
“Aerially he’s a very dominant figure in that space, but his physical condition is not at the right level to make a lot of judgment but we brought him because in almost all of the metrics he’s very close if not better than what you would get from a Ricardo Nascimento.”
The 24-year-old also expressed his delight after making his much-awaited debut especially getting the first run while the team was playing the Champions League which is his primary dream.
“It’s my first game. Obviously it is a bit difficult to give an opinion because it is the first game away from my country,” Boutouil told Mamelodi Sundowns TV.
“It is a different country for me I have seen the team, have been with the team and have to get into the team.
“As a new player, I am excited to be here playing CAF Champions League.”
“When it comes to the game, we listened to the coach’s advice, the game was good for me,” he added.
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“I hope ‘inshallah’ we get the Champions League this year, why not! Let’s hope so.
“We are going to try work on it and try win the Champions League this year.
“I was in the changeroom and the experience was new for me, I was so happy. No I have to learn more, I have to get used to it.
“I was so happy, I will try my best to be one of them and also sing in the future.”