Jess Thorup: Sundowns’ Flemming Berg is one of the best technical brains from Denmark

Thorup was speaking to South African media in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, this weekend, where the Bundesliga club is holding its pre-season training.

Berg, who arrived at Sundowns at the beginning of 2022, worked with Thorup when he was the Danish U21 head coach, with Berg occupying the role of Head of Elite Football Development.

He says the former Chelsea Chief Scout in Portugal is very good at developing clubs.

"I actually know Flemming very well, I worked with him when I was the under-21 national team coach, he worked in the federation at that time so we have a very close connection and he's not only a great guy, great person, he's also very clever on football," Thorup said.

"He can see football, he's strong in developing clubs, players, so I think it's a great opportunity for South Africa to have a guy like this joining a club here and as far as I can see he's doing a great job."

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In South Africa, Berg has been credited with transforming Sundowns’ transfer policy, bringing on some of the top talent from South America, like Marcello Allende, and improving the club's technical operations.

But he’s also divided opinion, with the latest departure of former head coach Rulani Mokwena attributed to an alleged strained relationship between him and the former coach.

Thorup continues to follow Berg’s great work.

"I will not say I've followed him a lot but I have followed him, I think everything, coaches, players who are playing all over Europe or in the world, it's exciting to follow and Flemming is one of them," he added.

"I think it's great to see the guys also sometimes take a chance to go into another side or part of the world and see if he can do differently and I think Flemming is doing a great job. Congratulations to him that he ended up in a position he did."