Miguel Cardoso hints Lucas Ribeiro has left Mamelodi Sundowns: 'He was important to Masandawana, we are trying to find solutions'

Lucas Ribeiro has been a key player at Mamelodi Sundowns since joining at the start of the 2023/24 season.

In the two years he has been at the club, the Brazilian has played a vital role domestically and abroad, with Masandawana winning three major trophies in the same period.

He starred in the recently concluded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where his team managed four points in their group, and missed making the knockout phase by a whisker.

Initially, Pyramids had reportedly submitted an offer for the versatile South American in their bid to continue rebuilding after their CAF Champions League triumph.

However, Brazilian outfit Flamengo countered that, with a rumoured staggering offer that Ribeiro couldn't resist.

Despite both clubs not commenting on what seems like an imminent move, coach Miguel Cardoso has hinted that Ribeiro has left.

“Lucas was a very important player on this team, not only by the numbers [goals and assists] but by the way he was able to [get] the team to play,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV
“We are trying to obviously, collectively, find solutions to deal with the absence,” Cardoso concluded.

Ribeiro has been a notable absentee in Sundowns' three games across all competitions this season.

It is interesting to see who Masandawana will bring to fill the void left by Ribeiro, who might make a return to Brazil.

Khuliso Mudau is another player who is reportedly on his way out.