Aixon is about to join Chengdu Rongcheng, and Li Ke is back home to be scouted by Guoan. The news of two naturalized players returning to the Chinese Super League has once again affected the nerves of Chinese soccer.
Four years ago, the "naturalization frenzy" once showed people the hope of the national soccer team to enter the World Cup. Subsequently, the outside world on the naturalized players questioned, as well as the back of the naturalized players after the 12th round of the tournament.
Now that Ackerson and Li Ke have returned to the attention of Chinese fans, is it a continuation of hope or a short-lived fizzle?
await expectantly
Had high hopes
"I am proud to have made the choice to return to China."
At the beginning of 2019, Hou Yong Yong made Beijing Guoan his foothold in China, becoming one of the first blood naturalized players. Li Ke is back with him.
While Chen Jiayu, who obtained Chinese citizenship in 2016, was the first to actually naturalize, the arrival of Hou Yongyong and Li Ke is seen as the beginning of naturalization in Chinese soccer.
Since then, "Elkeson" has become "Eckerson", "Aloysius" has become "Lo Kok Fu", while Browning took his grandfather's last name, Jiang Guangtai.
From 2019 to 2021, the lineup of the "naturalized army" continues to expand. Counting those who are already eligible to play for the national football team, those who will have to wait a few years to play for the national football team, and those who have been "rumored" to be naturalized, the number of people is enough to gather a set of starting lineup.
The naturalized players are some of the best players in the Chinese Super League. Such a large naturalized lineup has raised expectations for the national team's performance.
"It was hard at first, but I love China. I loved every minute of my experience."
In a previous interview, Li Ke admitted that he encountered difficulties after naturalization, which every naturalized player has to go through. However, the "naturalized army" soon accepted their new life calmly, with many players learning Chinese, writing Chinese and trying to integrate into their new environment.
Of course, for most fans, whether or not they fit into their new surroundings in life isn't the most important thing. As long as you can share the honor and shame with the team on the field, that's all that matters.
realism
underperform
In the second half of 2020, six naturalized players could play for the national football team. Just when the outside world was expecting the naturalized players to perform, the national team used them surprisingly well.
After the national football team drew with the Philippines and lost to Syria in the Top 40, the "second palace" Lippi left in anger. Li Tie, who took over as coach, has repeatedly claimed to treat players equally. But with the release of the starting lineup, the questions are always getting louder and louder.
In Li Tie's first few matches in charge, only Jiang Guangtai and Ackerson steadily appeared in the starting lineup. It wasn't until the Top 12 match against Australia that all four naturalized players appeared in the starting lineup at the same time for the first time.
While questions about the use of naturalized players have never ceased to be raised, it is an indisputable fact that they have not delivered satisfactory results.
Ackerson started 8 games and came off the bench in 2, scoring one goal in 10 games; Allan started 4 times and came off the bench 6 times, scoring 3 goals; and Lok Kwok Fu started 3 times and came off the bench 2 times, scoring one goal.
Guangzhou reportedly paid transfer fees, salaries, and settlement fees for six naturalized players in 2019, totaling 870 million yuan.
With such a high disproportion between inputs and outputs, the discussion of the rights and wrongs of naturalization policies has become even more interminable in practice.
Would the national soccer team be closer to the World Cup if naturalized players were given more opportunities? Time can't come back and that question won't be answered.
exit
Most people's choice
In the early morning of February 2, Norwegian second division club Langheim officially announced that Hou Yongyong will join the club as a free agent.
Hou Yongyong was injured and never played a single game for the national football team as a representative of blood naturalization. Even, he once disappeared from the fans' view.
Hou Yongyong was once known as one of the three heroes of Norway's 98th generation, alongside Ödgö. But now Hou Yongyong's home is Norway's second division after he left the Chinese Super League, sadly.
In fact, a group of naturalized players left the domestic professional league long before Hou Yong Yong.
Players such as Fernando, Gaolat, Allan and Ackerson have returned to Brazil after losing the guarantee of high salaries from former giants such as Guangzhou. There are even reports that Gallart is applying to regain his Brazilian citizenship.
Since most naturalized players are nearing the twilight of their careers, when they leave the Chinese Super League, they essentially decide to bid farewell to the national team.
In essence, a player is just a job. Changing courts in pursuit of a more stable employment environment is understandable. However, it is still unfortunate that the naturalization policy, considered a "panacea" for the national soccer team, has almost disappeared since Lippi's time.
return
How much heat is left?
Many media outlets described Exxon's return with similar dark humor.
The fact that Eickson has said he is willing to play for his country in the Asian Cup is a great relief to those who still want to be "naturalized". However, the expectations of the outside world are not very optimistic.
Today's "Eriksen" is no longer the "Elkeson" who was the top scorer in the Chinese Super League ten years ago. In the Pakistan B-League, Ekerson made only four starts a season and scored only four goals.
In the last 12 matches, Ekson has performed far below expectations. Who can guarantee Ekson's form for the Asian Cup in four months' time?
Along with Ickerson, Li Ke has recently returned to China and will be investigated by the Guoan coaching staff.At 30 years old, Li Ke is in his prime for playing time. If he returns to form, he will help improve his midfield capabilities.
However, due to his own "glass man" attributes, I am afraid there is a question mark over how Lee may be able to help the national soccer team in critical moments.
In the cold winter of Chinese soccer, the return of two naturalized players seems to bring a ray of hope. However, it has been proved that naturalized players are not a "special medicine" to save the national soccer team, but can only be regarded as a "drug introduction".
Ackerson's faith in the national team deserves recognition and is destined to inspire a group of young players, but the naturalization frenzy is over and Chinese soccer needs to be more down-to-earth if it wants to get out of the cold winter.
