Recently, the foreign player changes at Shandong Taishan have sparked a lot of discussion, especially when everyone discovered that four foreign players were going to leave. People are speculating about what kind of plan might be hidden behind this.
It's important to note that these foreign players aren't minor figures; their departure may indicate that Shandong Taishan is making a bold adjustment. So, what exactly is the reason for this? Let's take a look together.
Let's talk about these departing foreign players.
Leonardo hasn't appeared much on Shandong Taishan's match list since July 2021. At that time, he had serious injury problems and was later loaned out to other teams. In the past two years, he has performed well in Zhejiang Team. Returning to Shandong Taishan, it's clear that he no longer has any playing opportunities.
Do you think such a person wouldn't leave?
As for Marcel, he joined in the summer window of 2024 with a transfer fee of only 50,000 euros, and it's not an exaggeration to call him a firefighting player. However, despite his tall stature, he failed to replace Jadeson's position well in defense, and the results were just so-so.
Coupled with Jadeson's frequent injuries, ultimately, both sides couldn't renew the contract, and as a result, these few foreign players could only pack up and leave.
As for Pato, his time with the team was short and without many highlights, leaving Shandong Taishan is also a foregone conclusion.
Some netizens expressed that with such a change and addition, Taishan Team can be said to have completely bid farewell to the era of old foreign players, which inevitably makes people sigh - after all, they once brought many wonderful performances to the team.
Although everyone is a bit reluctant to see these foreign players leave, they are even more looking forward to the new layout of the team's future.
The remaining foreign players are not to be underestimated either.
For example, Zeke, Kaza, and Crescendo will continue to serve in the team. Although these names are not superstars, their contributions to the team are definitely significant, at least the stability of the defense and midfield can still rely on them to support.
Some fans began to speculate that Shandong Taishan might be preparing for a larger-scale recruitment for the next season, after all, relying solely on these familiar faces, it would be difficult to maintain the advantages of last year.
The most anticipated, of course, is the newly introduced foreign aid.
Madruja, a 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder from Cuiabá Esporte Clube in Brazil, with a transfer fee of 600,000 euros. His arrival has truly injected new vitality into Shandong Taishan's midfield.
Although many people have some prejudice against Brazilian players, thinking that their performance is sometimes unpredictable, you should know that Madruja's ball control and offensive organization ability is quite outstanding in Brazil, and his arrival will undoubtedly greatly improve the overall offensive efficiency of the team.
Judging from his age, his potential is limitless. If he can successfully integrate into the team, Taishan Team's midfield will definitely become more competitive.
Some netizens commented: Madruja, although his transfer fee is not high, the skills and speed of Brazilian players are indeed what we need.
Especially in midfield control, the past Taishan Team always seemed somewhat lacking in this aspect, and the introduction of Madruja undoubtedly supplements this shortcoming.
I hope he can lead the team to play more wonderful attacks.
Some fans are cautiously optimistic, wondering if this Brazilian midfielder can adapt to the rhythm of Chinese football, which is still a question.
The most exciting news is the introduction of Aboubakar.
This Cameroonian striker is an efficient scorer in the World Cup. In the 2022 World Cup, Aboubakar once attracted worldwide attention with his goals and assists.
Although he is already 32 years old, with his experience and ability, he can definitely bring a strong attacking power to Shandong Taishan's front line.
Fans have expressed that this signing is quite insightful, not only because of Aboubakar's personal ability but also because of his tenacity in breaking out in major competitions.
Some netizens pointed out: Aboubakar's arrival is indeed something to look forward to. He is experienced and shone in the World Cup. Compared to some young foreign players, Aboubakar's game reading ability is stronger. His joining is really worth it.
In addition to strengthening the midfield and forwards, Shandong Taishan will also undergo major surgery in defense.
The departure of Jadeson and Marcel has made the team's defensive gap very obvious. According to the latest news, Shandong Taishan has locked in a foreign central defender and plans to announce his name in the coming days.
Judging from the current information, the strength of this new central defender is not to be underestimated. The outside world generally guesses that this player is likely to be a big fish.
For Shandong Taishan, strengthening the defense is a must, after all, the team's backline has always been considered a weak link. If a top-level defender can be introduced, Taishan Team's overall strength will be greatly enhanced.
Some netizens commented: To be honest, the team's backline has always been unstable, which is also one of the reasons for the ups and downs of Taishan Team's performance.
Jadeson's departure is indeed disappointing, but introducing a new central defender is necessary. Whether or not they can come back strong defensively depends on this reinforcement.
The foreign player changes at Shandong Taishan can be said to be very bold.
From firefighting players to World Cup-level forwards, and then to the upcoming introduction of a powerful central defender, the team is obviously making careful preparations for the goals of next season.
For the fans, although the departure of some familiar faces is regrettable, they are even more looking forward to these new recruits bringing new气象 to the team and helping Shandong Taishan go further.
Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to see the performance of these fresh blood on the field, leading the team back to the peak.