Shandong Taishan have made notable changes to their squad for the new season, with Delgado, who shone last season, unexpectedly failing to make it to the first stage of the registration list, while newcomers such as Cressan managed to make the cut in the 2022 season's roster, as published on the transfer market website. Other foreigners include Jadson, Fellaini, Sun Junho and Moises, while for local players, apart from Liao Lixiang, youngsters Fang Hao, Yi Xianlong, Lu Yongtao and Liu Guobao also managed to make the list.
In the new Chinese Super League season, the number of entries has surged to 35 due to the impact of the epidemic and the tight schedule. Despite 26 players leaving Shandong Taishan during the winter window, the team's reinforcements have gone well, with a number of newcomers emerging in the AFC Champions League, injecting fresh blood into the team's first team. In the current 35-man list, five foreigners, including Jadson, Fellaini, Sun Junho, Moises and Kressan, occupy the front row, while Zheng Zheng, Liao Lixiang, Liu Binbin, Wang Dalei, Jin Jingdao and other members of the national team and a number of AFC Champions League starlets are also highly anticipated.
Delgado's situation is particularly delicate. The new season of the Chinese Super League foreign aid rules for the use of "note 6 reported 5 on 4", according to the latest policy of the Chinese Football Association, non-naturalized Delgado, if you play, still need to occupy the foreign aid quota. Even if he goes to other leagues, such as returning to his hometown of the Portuguese league, but also need to occupy the quota of non-European Union players, which is rare in the world of football.
In last season's matches, Delgado contributed 9 goals and 3 assists to the team, and was instrumental in the team's winning of the Chinese Super League and AFC Cup double. However, with the return of Guo Tianyu and the addition of Brazilian center forward Cressan, Delgado's chances this season have been compromised. Despite his excellent performances, he may need to seek a new outlet through a loan. Previously, there was news that Chongqing was interested in bringing him in, but failed to do so due to incomplete procedures. Of course, the possibility of Taishan re-enlisting him in the middle of the season cannot be ruled out to deal with possible foreigner injuries.
Taishan's roster features seven post-80s players, including Zheng Zheng, Moises, Zhang Qi, Wang Dalei, Fellaini, Dailin and Song Long, with 35-year-old Zhang Qi being the oldest player on the team.There are 22 post-90s players, and six post-00s, including Fang Hao, Liu Guobao, Yi Xianlong, Abdul Meat Suli Abdurahmu, Chen Zeshi and Lu Yongtao.
Here is the list of Shandong Taishan players for the 2022 season:
Goalkeepers: 1-Li Guanxi, 14-Wang Dalei, 18-Han Rongze
Defenders: 4-Jadason, 5-Zheng Zheng, 6-Wang Tong, 11-Liu Yang, 13-Zhang Qi, 15-Qi Tianyu, 16-Li Hailong, 27-Shi Ke, 31-Zhao Jianfei, 35-Dai Lin, 37-Ji Xiang, 39-Song Long
Midfield: 8-Liao Lisheng, 10-Moyses, 17-Wu Xinghan, 19-Chen Korui, 21-Liu Binbin, 25-Felaini, 26-Yi Xianlong, 28-Sun Junhao, 29-Chen Pu, 30-Abdul Meat Suli Abdullah, 33-Jin Jingdao, 34-Huang Cong, 36-Duan Liuyu, 38-Chen Zeshi, 40-Lu Yongtao
Forwards: 9-Cressan, 20-Fang Hao, 23-Hao Haiyi, 24-Liu Guobao, 32-Tian Xin
