Benni McCarthy: Harambee Stars Coach Reveals Untold Story of Rejecting PSG and South Africa's Top Clubs

South African football legend Benni McCarthy has disclosed that he turned down offers from local giants Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, early in his career.

In his new autobiography, the Harambee Stars coach detailed his unwavering focus on securing a move to Europe.

Benni McCarthy explained that despite his admiration for Kaizer Chiefs as a child, his ambition to play overseas was paramount. His impressive performances against the top South African clubs only strengthened his resolve.

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"Chiefs management came down to the dressing room, asking for my number or to speak to my dad about signing me," Benni McCarthy wrote.

"But I resolved then and there that I did not want to play for Chiefs, even if it had been a club I had loved as a kid."

A similar approach from Mamelodi Sundowns after another standout game served as confirmation of his rising talent.

"Sundowns' hierarchy approached me after the game and said they wanted to sign me," he recalled. "That is when I realised, ‘Okay, I'm doing something with my soccer.'"

However, the most surprising offer came from Paris Saint-Germain. The French club, having scouted him during a friendly, wasted no time in presenting a significant contract.

"Feyenoord and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had scouts there in the crowd, and the PSG scout made an immediate offer to me after that friendly," Benni McCarthy revealed.

"It was a big money deal, a frightening contract. They faxed it through from Paris, and I was very keen on the idea."

Despite the lucrative offer and the chance to play alongside his idol, Brazilian star Rai, Benni McCarthy ultimately chose a different path. He opted for Ajax Amsterdam, citing the welcoming atmosphere at the Dutch club as the deciding factor.

"I loved the way they treated me at Ajax; it felt like I had been at the club for years," he wrote. "I didn’t feel like a foreign player; I felt welcome. I was better than all the youth they had."