Mamelodi Sundowns' latest signing Lucas Ribeiro Costa has been given cautioned about what could befall in South Africa.
Costa arrives at Chloorkop thin on topflight football experience despite playing six years playing in Europe.
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The 24-year-old came through the development ranks of Brazilian club Esporte Clube Pinheiros before moving to the reserve team of Valenciennes in France in July 2017.
While in France he was then promoted to the senior team the following year but had minutes in Ligue 2 with his only appearance coming courtesy of a six minutes run in the Coupe de France.
After two years at Valenciennes, Costa went across the border to Belgium where he found a new home at Royal Excelsior Virton in the second-tier league.
None of his eight appearances there were full shifts though he was able to score four goals which immediately ignited the interest of top league club Chaleroi SC and he duly moved on for the 2020/21 season.
With Chaleroi, the Brazilian winger played twice in the Europa League qualifiers while getting 99 minutes (spread over eight appearances) in the league.
This was to be the only time Costa has ever played top-flight football with his only start lasting a mere 45 minutes with all his other appearances coming from the bench.
From the end of January 2021, Costa went on six-month loans loan at RWD Molenbeek, Royal Excel Mouscron, and SK Beveren who all play in the Challenger Pro League (second tier of Belgian football).
His time at Molenbeek delivered a single assist despite playing regularly then at Mouscron he scored six goals before moving to SK Beveren where he has spent the last 18 months.
"To be honest I don't know why he chose to come to Africa now but players who do that have small mindsets and they will have short careers," Belgium-based retired defender Valery Nahayo tells KickOff.
Nahayo played for Jomo Cosmos and Kaizer Chiefs before leaving for KAA Gent following which he had a brief stint with Mpumalanga Black Aces before returning to play for KSV Temse and FC Ganshoren in the Belgian lower leagues.
Since his retirement three years ago, Nahayo has remained in Belgium where he has earned his coaching badges and now part of the Burundi technical team.
"One thing is he put in his mind is that Belgium second division is not good for him, but he should ask himself why?
"But I feel the second division here is better because you can have big opportunities somewhere with big teams.
"At Sundowns, he will play one season, then be loaned out to Polokwane City and no one will talk about him after that.
"Young players should be careful.
"Time flies and you will end up not coming back to Europe," says Nahayo.
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