Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema has shared details regarding the unexpected contract termination and exit of Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro following the FIFA Club World Cup.
After two successful seasons at Chloorkop, Ribeiro shocked the club by terminating his contract in August and appealing to FIFA for his release. Just a month later, he signed with Cultural Leonesa in the Spanish second division.
Speaking on SoccerBeat, Maema, who is currently on loan at Tanzanian club Simba SC, admitted that Ribeiro’s exit was a complete surprise to him and the team.
“Personally, I haven’t spoken to him,” Maema stated. “After the Club World Cup, they gave us a three-week break. So normally, that time you’re with your family, you’re going on holiday. So that was the last time we spoke, at the FIFA Club World Cup.”
Maema elaborated that after the Club World Cup in America, the South American players went straight home. “I was also surprised because he was important for us, to be honest. It caught us all by surprise,” he added.
Since joining the Spanish second-tier club, the 27-year-old striker has netted twice in 10 appearances. Given his prolific scoring record in South Africa, some PSL fans have questioned whether Ribeiro made a mistake by leaving Sundowns for the Spanish second division.
