Speaking after the comfortable 2-0 win over Chippa United on Monday, Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena detailed the plans for his arrival.
“Ja, we’re excited, excited by the profile of a very good player that comes into a very good team already,” Mokwena said on Monday, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“And we’re looking forward to inducting him into the processes in the work that we do. Saavedra, as you all know, played for Bolivia, in the qualifiers on Tuesday.
“He then had to work with regards to getting all the necessary travel documents, including COVID tests. He left Bolivia, went to Peru, and came to the Netherlands. So you’re talking about plus minus more than 20 hours in transit and in flight and traveling to South Africa, he arrives very, very late hours tomorrow.
“So when we resume for training on Wednesday, he would have just arrived and only have put his feet down on the South African land but we’re excited.
“Hopefully he’ll join us by Thursday, we’ll induct him into the club, we’ll work with regards to all the other medical procedures that need to be done and familiarise him with our training, the squad and the processes that happen with regards to our preparation, and then we will take it from there… Hopefully we can incorporate him into the matchday squad as quickly as possible, but we are very, very patient and excited,” he added.
The midfielder is poised to join Sundowns this week after the Brazilians secured Saavedra’s signature on a multi-million rand contract from Bolivar (estimated to be around R12.25 million)
The Bolivian international, who was a standout at the Copa America, will bolster a Sundowns side that has already established a commanding lead in the DStv Premiership.
Saavedra’s contract will continue until the end of the 2023/24 season, but if all goes well, it might be extended for another two seasons.
“My contract is for two and a half years, but it can be extended for another two if the club wants it,” he told Premium Sports after leaving Bolivia.
“I am the perfect age to be able to go out and I must take advantage of it. I think that these things do not happen very often and I hope that everything goes well.
“I want to continue growing as a footballer and as a person, take advantage of it, enjoy myself and I hope that later on, more players will go abroad.”
Sundowns have welcomed the imminent arrival of Saavedra