Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes that Lucas Ribeiro Costa will have to prove himself at a higher level to earn a call-up to the Brazil squad.
Ribeiro has been in massive form this season as he reached 20 goal contributions in the Betway Premiership with 13 goals and seven assists.
The 26-year-old is the league’s leading goalscorer and there have been calls for South Africa to make him a local to earn a call-up to Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad due to doubts of him ever representing The Selecao.
Despite a tremendous season at Sundowns as they close in on an unprecedented eighth successive league title, he’s yet to get a look in from Brazil with Cardoso stating that Costa should compete at a higher level if he wants to be named in the Brazil national team.
“Do you want me to give you the political answer or the true one? Because if I give you the political answer I would say, it’s a pity that he don’t go to the national team of Brazil, he has been probably the best player in the league, highly skilful and all of this is true,” Cardoso told the media.
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“I think Lucas to go to the national team of Brazil will have to prove himself on another level that’s what I think. Because if you see the names of the players, I went to see the names of the players of the Brazil national team when they play and they play in the biggest teams in the world.
“We can think we are one of the biggest teams in Africa. I think Lucas will have to prove himself at that level if he wants to be called up for the national team for Brazil, and then it’s up to him to arrive at that level and show if he has that quality.
“He has potential, no doubts, if I believe in him, no doubts. I feel very pleasure to work with him that is clear but already worked with Douglas Costa, Luiz Adriano, Fernandinho, Taison so I know that Lucas has potential for that level, but he has to prove it.
“He will have to prove it.”
