Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Ricardo Nascimento issued a strong warning to Fluminense ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup clash.
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Nascimento spent six successful years with Masandawana between 2016 and 2022, winning five league titles and the 2017 CAF Super Cup, according to Transfermarkt.
The Brazilian was a mainstay in the Sundowns defence during his time in Mamelodi, leaving to join Royal AM before returning to his home country, where he retired at the start of 2025.
Speaking to FIFA, the 38-year-old admitted that he would be supporting The Brazilians - not Fluminense - but his former side ahead of their final group game.
"I’m only doing this interview for Mamelodi," he said. "They play a joyful style of football."
Nascimento admitted that the Tricolor were considered favourites going into the game, but said it was difficult to underestimate Sundowns, who would be playing as if it were a final.
"It will be a tough match because it’s going to decide who goes through to the next round,” Nascimiento said.
"The Club World Cup is showing us that there is not that much between the teams. I’ll be very surprised if Fluminense end up winning comfortably," he added.
The Brazilian offered his thoughts on how Masandawana could overcome Fluminense and praised Sundowns' two South American imports.
"The first thing to note is that they’re a very technical team, they like to have the ball,” he said. “They almost always have more possession than their opponents. They are solid in defence, but the centre of midfield is where they’re really strong, with [Marcelo] Allende and Lucas Ribeiro," he said.
Nascimento admitted he was intrigued by a move to South Africa after Sundowns had won the CAF Champions League in 2016.
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"I didn’t want to go at first, but I thought I should do it because they were in the final of the [CAF] Champions League. It was the best decision I ever made," he concluded.
