Shandong Taishan's performance in this season's Chinese Super League was not as good as it could have been. However, since Cui Kangxi took over the coaching reins, the team has taken on a new look. Nevertheless, there is still a gap between them and the top of the table. With the opening of the transfer window, Shandong Taishan is about to usher in a key attraction. It is reported that Shandong Taishan has decided to re-sign Brazilian striker Leonardo. Leonardo, who played briefly for Changchun Yatai, is preparing to return to Shandong this summer.
According to "Changchun Orange Breeze" and other media, Leonardo's return has been finalized, and Changchun Yatai is looking for a new foreign aid to fill the gap. This week, Changchun Yatai will usher in a showdown with Shandong Taishan. According to the principle of player avoidance, Leonardo should not appear in the game, but this may become his final performance in Changchun Yatai.
Leonardo has made a big splash in the Chinese Super League this season, scoring 10 goals so far to lead the scorers list. He is expected to win the Golden Boot award in the Chinese Super League this season. Shandong Taishan initially loaned Leonardo to Changchun Yatai, a move that once caused dissatisfaction among fans and was seen as one of the mistakes of former coach Hao Wei. Now, Shandong Taishan has decided to recall Leonardo, which is undoubtedly a correction of past decisions and means that the mistakes of the Hao Wei era will be corrected.
From a tactical point of view, Leonardo's return coupled with the addition of Cressan makes Shandong Taishan's forward line expected to remain a top competitor in the Chinese Super League for some time to come. In addition, the departure of Sun Junho has also freed up a foreign aid slot for Leonardo. When Choi Kang-hee was coaching Jeonbuk Hyundai, he specialized in using South American strikers like Leonardo, with his excellent running and shooting skills. Now, Leonardo's return proves that Choi's determination to lead the team to compete for the top three is not just empty talk.
