Kaizer Chiefs Transfer News: Mokoena opens up to potential Ribeiro signing

Kaizer Chiefs have been linked with a possible swoop for former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro, whose future with Spanish outfit Cultural Y Deportiva is not yet known.

The South American joined the second-tier outfit for an initial one-year deal with a posibility of extending it. However, things haven’t worked out as anticipated especially in the second tier.

As a matter of fact, the team might be relegated to the third tier, which might see the 27-year-old leave for greener pastures. Chiefs have been mentioned as a possible destination.

Ribeiro to Kaizer Chiefs not wise

“You can’t rule out Chiefs, but the only problem I have is, will Chiefs be able to break the bank to have a player like Ribeiro? Also, with history, there are only a few players who have moved from Sundowns and came to Chiefs and delivered,” Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Lebohang Mokoena said on Soccerbeat.

“I can mention only a few, you had Josta [Dladla], [Jose] Torrealba. But after that, the players who moved to Chiefs really struggled in terms of meeting the expectations that they came with.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be a wise move for Chiefs to get a player like Ribeiro, especially knowing that he played for a team like Sundowns and for him to join a team like Chiefs that is trying to get back a championship-winning mentality and winning ways.

“I would say to Kaizer Chiefs, no. Ribeiro is gone, we will see him. There are a lot of players in the country. They must just look and around until they will get some raw talent they need.”

Why Ribeiro might struggle at Kaizer Chiefs

“If it were to happen that they have a player like Ribeiro, I think they would have an individual player. Remember, he is just an individual player, and he needs his teammates. The only way Ribeiro can perform is when he has quality teammates around him. I don’t think it would make any change, instead there would be more pressure on Ribeiro,” Mokoena continued.

“We saw it when Keagan [Dolly] arrived, when GastonSirino arrived. Sirino was on top of his game at Sundowns, and he even wore number 10. I don’t think it will make any change, but just more pressure for Ribeiro because of his package if he comes to Chiefs.

“So, Chiefs, look somewhere else. I know fans would be like, ‘let him come’, but after a couple of months, they will be singing a different tune because the guy himself said he wants to leave South Africa. 

“He is gone, let’s forget about him. Let him fight against relegation there [in Spain], we have a lot of players here,” he concluded.