After missing out on Dursun, Douglas Tank and Avel Hernandez, Changchun Yatai have finally completed the introduction of a foreign center forward! According to Brazilian journalist Filipe Silva, 25-year-old Lennardo will join Changchun Yatai on a season-long loan from Shandong Taishan.
Screenshots from foreign media
Last season, Lennardo was loaned to Ulsan Hyundai by Shandong Taishan. Under the guidance of renowned Korean coach Hong Myung-bok, he played 43 games on all fronts, scoring 14 goals and assisting 6 times. He was the second top scorer in the team after Yoon Won. Ulsan Hyundai, led by him and the likes of Yoon Won, also broke the spell of perennial title losses, eventually beating Jeonbuk Hyundai to claim the third league trophy in the team's history.
Leonardo (name)
But at the end of the season, Leonardo was not bought out by Ulsan Hyundai, and coupled with the fact that Shandong Taishan's foreign aid quota was full, he had to remain on loan. In fact, back when Leonardo stayed in Brazil, Shandong Taishan recommended him to São Paulo and expressed their willingness to bear most of the player's salary; however, after acquiring Caleri and renting Ellison, São Paulo did not have the need to attack. Renting Lennardo was naturally not of interest.
Recently, Lennardo entered China and trained individually at the Shandong Taishan base. He has also finally finalized his next home until the start of the new Chinese Super League season. According to Brazilian journalist Filipe Silva, Lennardo will sign with Changchun Yatai for one season as a loan. In order to save costs, Yatai will have four foreigners (Lennardo, Serginho, Zui, Okore) for the first half of the 2023 season.
