Five naturalized players failed to help the national football team turn things around in the Round of 12.
Norwegian First Division side Langholm announced on Feb. 2 the signing of Beijing Guoan veteran Hou Yongyong and the departure of another naturalized player to the Chinese Super League. Of the naturalized players who have been selected for China's men's national soccer team, Jiang Guangtai is still sticking with the Chinese Super League, and it remains to be seen whether Li may remain in China.
leave the field
Many waved to the CFL
In March 2022, the national soccer team ended its journey to the Top 12. Although Jiang Guangtai, Alan, Ackerson, Luo Guofu, and Fernando recruited five naturalized players for the tournament, the results were not ideal, with Fernando failing to represent the national team due to injury.
Since 2021, many naturalized players have exited the Superliga, with Lo Guofu, Ickerson, Gallart, Allan and others having returned to the Brazilian league. The national team recruited several naturalized players: the first naturalized player, Aixon, helped Gremio return to Barcelona, but he didn't stay with the team and his contract with Music expired last November; Allan joined Barcelona Fluminense last June but didn't make the team's main roster; and Lo Guofu played for Barcelona America Mineiro but, as a 34-year old veteran, has said that he may retire next year; Fernando never found a new boss.
In addition, after helping Atletico de Bahia successfully return to the Barclays Premier League, Gallart confirmed that he will resume his Brazilian citizenship, while another naturalized player, Xiao Tao Tao, who has never been in the national soccer picture, also applied for the restoration of his Peruvian citizenship at the end of last year.
Hou Yongyong did nothing during his time with Guiao. Pic/Tu/icphoto
On January 31, 2019, Beijing Guoan FC officially announced that Hou Yongyong and Li Ke had joined the team.On February 23, 2019, Hou Yongyong came on as a substitute in the 71st minute of Beijing Guoan's Super Cup match against Shanghai Seaport, creating a historic moment for a naturalized player to make his debut in a Chinese soccer match. Due to injuries and other factors, Hou Yongyong did nothing during his time with Guoan. He made only 28 appearances for the team, scoring four goals and one assist, and was never called up by the national team.After his contract with the club expired at the end of 2022, Guoan did not choose to renew the naturalized player's contract. He returned to Norway to play soccer.
suspense
Rico's future is not clear
Jiang Guangtai was the only naturalized player to represent the national football team in the Top 12, and in August 2022, Jiang Guangtai said goodbye to Guangzhou and joined Shanghai Harbour. Jiang Guangtai continued to perform consistently at Shanghai Harbor and was selected as a candidate for the "2022 China Golden Ball Award".
It has not yet been determined whether Li Ke will remain in the Chinese Super League. Like Hou Yongyong, Li Ke's contract with Beijing Guoan expires at the end of December 2022, and the club has yet to determine whether it will be renewed.
Li Ke has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons.In August 2021, Li Ke returned to the United Kingdom to undergo two surgeries due to injuries.In May 2022, he returned to the Premier League but was unable to train with the team due to a poor recovery from his injuries and left the team before the start of the campaign to return to the United Kingdom to undergo a third surgery.In August 2022, Guiao An deregistered him from the team and announced that Li Ke was 2022 season as an early reimbursement. The naturalized player is now back in the rehabilitation phase, saying on social media platforms that he is back in the gym for rehab.
In this case, the Guoan club wants to check Li Ke's recovery from injury before deciding whether to extend his contract. It is unclear whether he will be able to stay in the Chinese Super League in the new season.
Li Ke has been plagued by injuries for the last two seasons. Pic/Tu/icphoto
Status of the nine naturalized players
Hou Yong Yong:
Joined Ranheim in the Norwegian League and was not selected for the national football team
Rico:
Played in the Top 40 for the National Football League and has an expiring contract with the national team
Exxon:
First naturalized player of the national football team's contract with Gremio expires
Mrs. Chiang Kwang:
National Football League 12 starting center back plays for Shanghai Harbor
Alan:
Played in the Top 12 for the national soccer team and for Fluminense in the Barclays Premier League
Rocky Rich:
Played for the National 12 and for Minero America in the Barclays Premier League
Fernando:
Was selected for the national soccer team but did not play, currently a free agent
Gallagher:
Played for Atletico de Bahia and is in the process of applying for reinstatement of Brazilian citizenship
Xiao Tao-tao:
Not on the national soccer team's radar, applied for reinstatement of Peruvian citizenship late last year
