Lucas Ribeiro ‘close’ to reuniting with ex-Sundowns coach in North Africa

Former Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Lucas Ribeiro is reportedly close to sealing a deal with Libyan outfit Al-Ittihad Tripoli which would see him reunite with Rulani Mokwena.

Mokwena and Ribeiro know each other too well as the Brazilian signed for Sundowns when the former was in charge and won the PSL title in 2023-24 before the tactician left at the end of the season.

Ribeiro had scored 16 goals and added nine assists as Sundowns clinched a seventh successive league title and reached the CAF Champions League semi-final under Mokwena and continued last season when he was the PSL top scorer and Player of the Season, having led Masandawana to another crown.

Lucas Ribeiro failed to sparkle in Spain

However, he left the club in controversial fashion, forcing his way out by citing the ‘Diarra Law,’ accusing Sundowns of pricing him out of transfers after bids from the Middle East, South America and Europe were rejected by the PSL giants.

Ribeiro joined Spanish second division side Cultural Leonesa but has struggled to have the same impact he had in South Africa, managing just four goals and one assist in 26 games, with the club bottom of La Liga 2 and set to be relegated to the third tier.

With his contract coming to an end in June, Ribeiro seems to have found an escape route as according to Foot Africa, Al-Ittihad have reached a deal in principle with him to join ahead of next season.

Al-Ittihad on big spending spree

Al-Ittihad have been on a spending spree in the last few months, having lured Mokwena from Algerian champions MC Alger mid-season when his side were poised to win the league and also convinced ex-Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch as well as Burkina Faso international Stephane Aziz Ki to join in January from Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club.

The club are fighting for the league title, leading their zone at the moment, and just this week, made it to the Libyan Cup semi-final.