Young South African striker Cassius Mailula is making headlines today with his announced return to Toronto FC following the collapse of a loan deal with MC Alger.
At 24 years old, Mailula had spent the previous season on loan at Wydad Athletic Club in Morocco, where he shone under his former coach Rulani Mokwena, scoring 15 goals and providing 4 assists in 31 matches before moving to Major League Soccer in a €1.5 million transfer.
However, his spell at Toronto was less successful, as competition with Italian forwards such as Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi prevented him from fully establishing himself. Despite an attempted loan move to MC Alger, the deal fell through, forcing Mailula to return to Canada to continue his career with Toronto FC.
Toronto’s general manager, Jason Hernandez, explained that no offers were convincing enough for either the club or the player, which led to the decision for him to return. Mailula will now have to rediscover the form that initially attracted the North American club when he arrived.
This comeback is an important step for the young South African international, still seeking stability in a competitive league. His return to Toronto FC, announced in the past 24 hours, is a fresh development in this summer’s transfer market and draws attention to the next stage of his professional growth.