As the new season approaches, new additions are gradually appearing in Chengdu Rongcheng. For example, Timo Reichert, who has already practiced with the team, Yan Dinghao, who is rumored to have come down from the tree, Yang Shuai, who has already left to come back... Although some of the news can't be separated from the truth for the moment, you can see that Chengdu Rongcheng has some ideas for this season!
However, the Chinese Super League teams are not small, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for Chengdu Rongcheng to secure a place in the AFC Champions League, perhaps one Leonardo short!
This season is much more competitive and the front line still needs to be strengthened!
In the 2023 season, the Chinese Super League teams are being rejuvenated and are not at full strength. Apart from champion teams like Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan, Chengdu Rongcheng is not the only team with ideas for the new season.
Shanghai Shenhua, for example, has not only brought in a lot of strong reinforcements, but also fired Wu Jingui, the head coach who performed well last season. This shows that Shenhua is going up a flight of stairs in the new season and even has the idea of striking the Super League title. Henan has clearly targeted the AFC Championship and wouldn't say that without a little confidence. Some teams seem to be slow, but actually they are secretly accumulating energy.
In addition, the new season's five foreign aid policy will put a lot of pressure on Chengdu Rongcheng. Last season, Ackerson and Zhou Dingyang did not take up the foreign aid quota, but other teams are allowed to participate in five foreign aiders this season, which will reduce this advantage. As things stand, the team has yet to make progress with its foreigners, except for bringing in Reichert to replace Chad. The team needs to bring in a wideout on the offensive line so that it has the tools to face stiff competition. Leonardo, last season's Golden Boot of the Chinese Super League, is undoubtedly his favorite candidate.
With five foreigners on the team, is it possible to bring in Leonardo?
With Reichert at the center and players like Li Yang as additions, Chengdu Rongcheng's backline is good enough to handle the Chinese Super League. The midfield has captain Zhou Dingyang sitting in town, adding the likes of Yan Dinghao and Buytijiang. This configuration is also very good. But the offensive line still has some deficiencies and needs to be strengthened. Leonardo fits the bill perfectly.
However, the team currently has five foreign aiders, including Felipe, Palacios, Andrigo and Romulo, as well as the newcomer, Reichert. According to the "5 on 5" foreign aid policy, it would be a waste to bring in another foreign aid who can't make the roster. In this case, it seems unrealistic to bring in Leonardo.
However, there is the possibility of bringing in Leonardo, which is related to Romulo's physical recovery. Romulo was injured on June 3 of last year. A ruptured cruciate ligament is a serious injury that takes at least six months to recover from. Now we can only say that the injury is healed, and it is still a question mark when he will be able to reach a good playing condition. It cannot be ruled out that Romulo is still mainly recovering in the first half of the season, and the team still needs to add an outside back in the attack line.
Of course, it's not necessarily Leonardo who is imported. It's just a metaphor. After all, he's worth a lot of money after getting the Golden Boot in the Chinese Super League. If Seo Jung-won could find a treasure from the K-League, that would naturally be the best.
Overall, Chengdu Rongcheng's center and backfield are almost the same and don't need any big moves. But there is still some significance in the offensive line, the lineup is not thick enough. With Romulo's recovery unknown, the offense needs a pop to be more certain of qualifying for the AFC Champions League.
