The year 2025 is just around the corner, and currently, various Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs are preparing for the new season, with many already having transfer targets in mind. It is believed that once the winter transfer window opens for the CSL, these clubs will quickly announce the signings of their new players.
However, Shandong Taishan, a traditional powerhouse in the CSL, has not made significant moves in the recent transfer market. Instead, several key players have been confirmed to be leaving the team. Currently, Tong Lei, Sun Guowen, and Liao Lisheng have all confirmed their departures. In terms of foreign players, Pato and Delgado were unable to secure contract renewals with the club and have left the team.
According to the latest news, Marcelo, the Brazilian central defender who joined the team this summer, has also not received a contract renewal from Taishan Club and will not be able to stay with the team next season. As a semi-professional player, Marcelo's performance in the league over the past half-season has far exceeded fans' expectations. He not only excelled defensively but also made contributions offensively, leading to his transfer value skyrocketing from 50,000 euros to 300,000 euros.
Despite this, after careful consideration, the senior management of Taishan Club decided not to renew Marcelo's contract. Although Marcelo is a cost-effective foreign central defender, Taishan hopes to perform better in the upcoming CSL and FA Cup seasons, even aiming to compete for the championship. With this goal in mind, the club believes it needs to bring in higher-level players to enhance its overall strength.
With the significant increase in his transfer value, Marcelo is not short of potential suitors after leaving. It is reported that Dalian Yibo, newly promoted to the CSL, and Wuhan Three Towns, former champions of the CSL, are both interested in signing the Brazilian central defender.
Due to the successful experience of introducing Marcelo last season, Taishan Club has once again set its sights on Brazilian football. Recently, according to Shandong media reports, the 24-year-old midfielder Madruga is expected to join Shandong Taishan next season. Madruga also comes from Luneng Brazil's youth training system, which will make his integration with the team smoother.
Madruga performed outstandingly in last season's Brazilian second division. He started in all 32 matches, accumulating a total playing time of 2714 minutes, demonstrating excellent physical fitness and stability. As a typical B2B midfielder, Madruga had commendable performances at both ends of the field.
Defensively, Madruga's statistics were also impressive. He averaged 1.78 tackles per game, ranking 14th in the league; 1.31 interceptions per game, ranking 16th; and 1.71 fouls per game, ranking 13th. These key statistics are significantly stronger than Marcelo's, although there is still a gap between Madruga and Marcelo in terms of heading and clearance due to their different positions and heights.
Offensively, Madruga also displayed comprehensive abilities. In 32 games, he had a total of 31 shots, with 10 on target, achieving a shooting accuracy rate of 32%. He also contributed 28 key passes, averaging one threatening pass per game. His total number of passes was 908, with a success rate of as high as 77%. Additionally, Madruga scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists, indicating a certain scoring ability.
Overall, Madruga's performance can be described as an all-round midfielder. Not only does he possess excellent defensive capabilities, but he can also play a significant role in offense. What is even more valuable is that Madruga has a very high attendance rate and rarely gets injured, making him the ideal B2B-type defensive midfielder that Shandong Taishan has been looking for.