Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa had an outstanding season in the PSL but could his CAF Champions League record affect his chances of moving to a bigger European club?
Ribeiro has been unstoppable for Sundowns in the domestic scene, with debates emerging for him to be naturalised for Bafana Bafana purposes.
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This, of course, is informed by the 26-year-old scoring 20 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this past season.
Ribeiro, who has reportedly attracted interest from French club Lille and other overseas clubs, has, however, been below par in the CAF Champions League, scoring only three goals so far (he also scored three in the tournament last term),
Rather peculiar considering his team is in the final.
There were excuses made for the stylish left-footer in the Champions League final first leg against Pyramids FC in Tshwane last weekend, where a number of fans and pundits felt he was played out of position, on the right wing.
The sides drew 1-1.
"Ribeiro in the Champions League has not been the Ribeiro we know in the Betway Premiership, he bosses around," Morgan Gould said on Switch On Network YouTube Channel.
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With R75 million and a star on the badge at stake in the second-leg on Sunday, Ribeiro may need to make a statement that he can be a player for the big occasion.
Failure to stamp such authority could give European suitors doubts that he has improved since joining Sundowns from Belgian Second Division club SK Beveren.
Unless, of course, the Brazilian shows up in the FIFA Club World Cup in the coming weeks.
