Mensah leaves Free State Stars for Udinese

Ghana youth defender Jonathan Mensah is upbeat that struggling Free State Stars can survive relegation in the South Africa Premier Soccer League as he leave the club.

 
Mensah will join Udinese next month after spending two years at the club and signed off in his last game on Thursday in a 2-1 to Moroka Swallows.

 
Free State Stars lie in a parlous 14th position on the log sheet.

 
But the Fifa Under-20 World Cup winner told Kickoff.com:"I would have loved to leave my club in a good position but the result against Swallows yesterday did not help matters.

 
"However, they still have seven games to play and I am sure the month-break ahead will give the club enough time to recover and bounce back to their winning ways when the League resumes again in February."

 
"Even though they are not in a good position on the log, I don't see the club being relegated as they have a great coach and very good players. The only thing is that they have to work harder in the remaining seven games."

 
The 19-year-old also paid glowing tribute to the club for refining his skills.

 
"I owe the club's management and my teammates a lot. They made my stay in South Africa enjoyable and allowed me to expose my talent.

 
"I wish I could have left the club with a trophy, but I believe they have the potential to win one in the near future," he adds.

 
Mensah has agreed a three-year contract with Udinese but there were earlier reports that he would be loaned out to Spanish second-tier side Granada.