French Ligue 2 outfit Saint-Étienne have reportedly set their sights on Mamelodi Sundowns star Lucas Ribeiro Costa – but serious questions are already being asked about whether the R41 million (€2 million) price tag mentioned in European media will be enough to turn the heads of the ambitious Tshwane giants.
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According to Footboom1, the 26-year-old Brazilian has emerged as an unlikely target from the FIFA Club World Cup after his standout performances for Sundowns in their campaign so far. Ribeiro created the winner in the opening 1-0 triumph over Ulsan Hyundai and found the back of the net against Borussia Dortmund in their thrilling 4-3 loss – bringing his name firmly into the spotlight on the global stage.
The report claims that Saint-Étienne are exploring the possibility of a €2 million (approx. R41 million) offer to lure the versatile forward, who can operate both as a central attacking midfielder and winger, back to France, where he previously turned out for Valenciennes.
However, that figure may be far below what Sundowns would even begin to entertain.
The Brazilians are on a single-minded mission to conquer Africa – a CAF Champions League title has eluded them since 2016 despite multiple deep runs – and their recent recruitment strategy has shown they are willing to spend big to get closer to that elusive second star.
The club forked out around R63 million for Arthur Sales, R51 million for Marcelo Allende, R44.2 million for Matias Esquivel, and R28 million for Tashreeq Matthews, all within the last 18 months.
In that context, a R41 million bid for arguably their most in-form attacker and a PSL Footballer of the Season candidate seems optimistic, at best.
Ribeiro, who is under contract with Sundowns until 2028, has become a key figure in Miguel Cardoso’s setup, not just for his numbers but for his tactical flexibility and link-up with fellow South Americans at the club. At 26, he’s entering his prime, and the value of his presence for Sundowns, both technically and symbolically, far exceeds the reported offer.
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Saint-Étienne’s interest may be flattering for Ribeiro and South African football at large, but unless the French club is prepared to open their chequebook far wider, it’s hard to see Sundowns even coming to the negotiating table.
