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SABC Sport understands that Mamelodi Sundowns have been blindsided by Lucas Ribeiro’s claim that he is leaving the club, with sources confirming the Brazilian forward has not been granted his clearance.
On Monday night, Ribeiro took to Instagram to post an emotional farewell to his teammates, declaring his two-year stay at Chloorkop had come to an end.
Sundowns, however, have remained silent on the matter.
The 26-year-old has been pushing for a move since returning from the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, amid reported interest from Fluminense in his native Brazil and Qatar SC in the Gulf.
But none of the suitors have so far been able to meet Sundowns’ valuation before the close of the transfer window.
In frustration, Ribeiro escalated the dispute to FIFA, with his lawyers arguing that Sundowns were placing unreasonable demands that effectively blocked any transfer. His contract is understood to still have one year left, with the club holding options for a further two seasons.
While the FIFA case remains unresolved, Ribeiro’s surprise social media announcement has angered the Sundowns hierarchy, who are now considering their own legal action to enforce what they insist is a binding agreement.
Ribeiro is the current Footballer of the Year in the Premier Soccer League after scoring a total 21 goals and grabbing 14 assists in 51 matches for Sundowns.
