Mamelodi Sundowns have spoken out following explosive claims from Lucas Ribeiro Costa. He accused the club of blocking his overseas transfer. The reigning PSL Player of the Season alleges Masandawana deliberately inflated his asking price. This made it impossible for European and Middle Eastern suitors to seal a deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 26-year-old Brazilian enjoyed a remarkable 2024\/25 campaign. He scooped four major PSL awards and dazzled at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. There, he earned the Goal of the Tournament. His performances inevitably caught global attention. However, his three-year contract with Sundowns remains the central stumbling block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ribeiro has already terminated his deal and declared he has \u201cjust cause\u201d to take his case to the FIFA Football Tribunal. His lawyer<\/a>, Jean-Louis Dupont \u2013 famed for successfully representing French midfielder Lassana Diarra in a similar contractual dispute \u2013 insists Sundowns have acted unfairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dupont, Qatar SC tabled an offer \u201cwell above Ribeiro\u2019s valuation.\u201d Yet Sundowns kept raising the price in what he described as an \u201cunreasonable\u201d manner. He argued the club\u2019s handling of negotiations failed to consider Ribeiro\u2019s personal and professional needs. This included his desire for stability for his young family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is not just about money,\u201d Dupont stressed. \u201cIt is about respecting a player\u2019s career path and allowing him the opportunity to grow.\u201d His comments suggest a potential drawn-out legal battle, with Ribeiro prepared to escalate matters if FIFA declines to intervene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n