Cardoso on Talk of Reisinho & Santos Replacing Ribeiro 

Mamelodi Sundowns completed the signing of two Portuguese players, Nuno Santosand Miguel Reisinho, just before the PSL transfer deadline, though coach Miguel Cardoso insists neither is a direct replacement for Lucas Ribeiro. 

Winger Santos, signed from Vitória Guimarães, has already made his mark, featuring in the midweek 1-0 Betway Premiership defeat against Golden Arrows. 

Midfielder Reisinho, who was a free agent after leaving Boavista FC in July, was unveiled on Friday. 

Cardoso’s statement emphasizes that the club’s recruitment drive is focused on enhancing the overall squad, not solely on filling Ribeiro's spot.

‘NO PLAYER WILL REPLACE LUCAS’

“No player will replace Lucas because that’s not what we’re looking for,” said Cardoso.

“We’re not looking to replace Lucas, we want. We’re looking to reinforce the team that’s completely different.

“Every player has its own characteristics and neither Nuno or Miguel Reisinho has the characteristics that Lucas had.

“He [Riveiro] was a different player and also these ones are different players.”

Cardoso says Masandawana are looking to become a more collective side, moving away from the reliance on individual brilliance previously provided by Ribeiro.

“The Sundowns team will develop to be a a different team, probably a collective team even more than it was in the past. Lucas was the player that could solve problems alone,” he added.

“Lucas is a wonderful memory and a good friend but he is the past. The team and us coaches don’t relate with the past. We just need to understand how capable we are, to welcome everybody and gather every capacity from each player and develop the team in that sense.”