It seems that the naturalization process of the national football team has not yet come to an end, as the competitive status of many naturalized foreigners has declined one after another. Looking back, Fernando, the youngest naturalized player, was at the peak of his career at 27 years old. As a winger, he contributed 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 matches for Guangzhou. With his excellent breakaway speed and dribbling skills, Fernando is expected to become a powerful blasting point of the national soccer team's side attack if everything goes well.
However, the highly regarded naturalized player has gradually been reduced to a chicken scratch. Since the naturalization operation was completed, Fernando seemed to have lost his forward momentum and started to go downhill. Despite showing a strong desire to play in several attempts with Guangzhou and the national team, he struggled to keep up with the actual action. In Guangzhou, he was fined 3 million by the club for poor performance and attitude problems; in the national soccer team, he retired due to injury and failed to play even one official match. After Fernando's injury in the national soccer team, he continued to miss Guangzhou's matches until his contract expired and he chose to return to Brazil. Like naturalized players such as Aixon, Lo Kok Fu and Alan, he was eager to find work again. However, while Alain and Lo found new homes, Fernando never did. In Brazil, he lived a near-retirement life, with no hope of continuing his career. On March 24, 2023, domestic media confirmed that the 30-year-old Fernando was interested in returning to the game, but he needed to prove himself with real action. According to well-known media person Li Pingkang, Fernando has expressed his intention to return to the game, and his target team is Shandong Taishan. However, due to a long period of time without systematic training and competition, his condition is worrying. Fernando's last game took place on May 9, 2021, when he came on as a substitute for Guangzhou against Shijiazhuang Yongchang, and the last time he scored a goal was back on October 21, 2020, when he scored twice for Guangzhou against Hebei Huaxia. As a result, he will join Taishan on a trial basis, with an official transfer only possible if he passes the trial. Blogger "Leicester City's Little Fox" also confirmed the news of Fernando's trial with Taishan. Fernando's choice to join the champions once again is certainly a smart one, as it will ensure that he will not suffer from wage arrears when he returns to the Chinese Super League. Taishan, one of the most stable clubs operating in the Chinese Super League, are also a traditional powerhouse. Despite his somewhat flamboyant performance, Fernando emphasized his future goals in the CCTV interview, stating his desire to return to the Chinese soccer team and shine at the 2024 Asian Cup.
