The details of Zeca's accidental injury in preparation for the match are not yet clear, but what is certain is that he has returned to Brazil and is awaiting the results of tests to determine a specific treatment plan. There is no doubt that Zeca will miss the upcoming AFC Champions League knockout match against Kawasaki Frontale. With the knockout rounds approaching, Taishan were faced with an external reinforcement dilemma and made a decisive decision to recall Delgado, who was away in Portugal, in case of an emergency.
According to the update of the German transfer data, Taishan has extended the contract with Delgado until 2024, and the new contract will be executed from next season. Delgado will be registered as a local player in the domestic league and will not be required to take up the foreign aid quota. According to the rules of the Chinese Football Association, each club can only have one non-blood naturalized player on the pitch, so if Delgado and Fernando are present at the same time, one of them will have to be counted as a foreigner. It seems likely that Delgado will return to the team at this point to fill Zeca's shoes for the AFC Champions League knockout stage.
Both Fernando and Delgado are eligible to enroll as homegrown players in the Super League. Who will come out on top will depend on their performance in training and matches. Delgado's return has undoubtedly inspired healthy competition, creating a fierce rivalry between the two. This also avoids the "negative play" that Fernando was guilty of last season, as they now have direct competition for their positions and could be replaced in the event of a poor performance.
