Former Orlando Pirates man Marshall Munetsi set for R137 million move

Munetsi – who turned 26 on Wednesday – has spent the past three years impressing at French Ligue One club Stade Reims where he has stood up against global superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

In the just-ended season, he scored five goals playing as a central defender and holding midfielder igniting interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray in what would have been a transfer worth R60 million.

Premier League (England) – Manchester United (3 in a row) – 1998/99; 1999/00; 2000/01 & 2006/07; 2007/08; 2008/09 (Premier League era only)

LaLiga (Spain) – Real Madrid (5 in a row) – 1961/62; 1962/63; 1963/64; 1964/65; 1965/66 & 1985/86; 1986/87; 1987/88; 1988/89; 1989/90

Bundesliga (Germany) – Bayern Munich (10 in a row) – 2012/13; 2013/14; 2014/15; 2015/16; 2016/17; 2017/18; 2018/19; 2019/20; 2020/21; 2021/22

Serie A (Italy) – Juventus (9 in a row) – 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13; 2013/14; 2014/15; 2015/16; 2016/17; 2017/18; 2018/19

Ligue 1 (France) – Olympique Lyonnais (7 in a row) – 2001/02; 2002/03; 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06; 2006/07; 2007/08

Primeira Liga (Portugal) – FC Porto (5 in a row) – 1994/95; 1995/96; 1996/97; 1997/98; 1998/99

Eredivisie (Netherlands) – PSV Eindhoven (4 in a row) – 1985/86; 1986/87; 1987/88; 1988/89 & 2004/05; 2005/06; 2006/07; 2007/08 – shared with Ajax Amsterdam (also 4 in a row)

Brasileirão (Brazil) – Santos (5 in a row) – 1961; 1962; 1963; 1964; 1965

Primera División (Mexico) – Guadalajara (4 in a row) – 1958/59; 1959/60; 1960;61; 1961/62

Premier Liga (Russia) – Spartak Moscow (6 in a row) – 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001

Scroll through the gallery to see how Mamelodi Sundowns' five-season DStv Premiership streak compares with the best in the world

English Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion have now made enquiries about taking Munetsi to the south coast of England.

The Seagulls need a replacement for Malian international Yves Bissouma who has joined Tottenham Hotspur and according to English publication The Daily Mail they have asked about Munetsi.

The Zimbabwean midfielder’s statistics – worked on key duties of a defensive midfielder – rank him above Real Madrid's new signing Aurelien Tchouameni who moved from Monaco and Aston Villa’s Boubacar Kamara who joined from Marseille.

Reims will be keen to sell for seven million pounds (approximately R137 million).   

Last month Munetsi signed a new contract with Reims which will run up to 2026.

Munetsi arrived in South Africa as a teenager in 2015 having never played professional football back home signing for NFD club FC Cape Town before being snapped by Pirates the following year who then loaned him to Baroka for a season.

He returned to Pirates and spent two years battling his way to 37 appearances before leaving for France.