In the off-season of the 2024 Chinese Super League season, the transfer dynamics of Shandong Taishan Club have captured the hearts of many fans. Recently, news about Brazilian forward Leonardo's imminent return to Jinan has brought a touch of warmth to the team's somewhat quiet recruitment efforts. However, the road back for this former hero seems not to be smooth sailing!
The current situation of Shandong Taishan is a mixture of joy and worry. On one hand, the team's actions in the transfer market are slow, and it even faces the problem of player loss. He Xiaoke has already joined Qingdao West Coast and started training with his new club. On the other hand, the contract renewal negotiations with key foreign aid Jadson have also reached an impasse. Head coach Choi Kang-hee hopes to stabilize the team's morale with a long-term contract of three years, but the club prefers to sign short-term contracts of one to two years to maintain the flexibility of squad adjustments.
However, amidst this seemingly depressed atmosphere, Leonardo's return is undoubtedly a shot in the arm. The 27-year-old Brazilian striker's connection with Shandong Taishan dates back to 2021. Although he only made 8 appearances and scored 1 goal during his first stint, his subsequent career trajectory has proven his abilities.
In 2022, he was loaned to South Korea and won the league championship. In 2023, while playing for Changchun Yatai, he won the Chinese Super League Golden Boot. His outstanding performance in Zhejiang in 2024 even skyrocketed his value to 3.5 million euros, ranking fourth among Chinese Super League players.
According to local media reports in Shandong, the club has reached a preliminary consensus with Leonardo on the new season's contract, which is expected to be signed until 2025. The return of this frontline powerhouse will undoubtedly inject strong firepower into the team's attacking line. However, an unexpected variable has emerged: Zhejiang Team expressed its intention to naturalize Leonardo, and the player himself had previously publicly stated that he was willing to accept naturalization. This potential variable has cast uncertainty over what was originally a near-completed transfer.
From a tactical perspective, Leonardo's technical characteristics are very suitable for Shandong Taishan's offensive system. Not only does he possess excellent scoring ability, but he can also cooperate well with his teammates, which is exactly what the team currently needs in an attacking player. His rich experience in the Chinese Super League will also help the team gain an advantage in the new season's journey.
As a long-term follower of the Chinese Super League and a seasoned fan, I believe that Leonardo's return is a wise move for Shandong Taishan. First, he has proven his adaptability and competitive level in the Chinese Super League; secondly, compared to bringing in new foreign aid, familiar veterans who know the team's system will integrate into the team much faster; most importantly, his outstanding performance in the Chinese Super League has already won the recognition of Chinese fans.
However, we must also clearly recognize that a single player's joining cannot solve all the team's problems. Shandong Taishan still needs to accelerate its recruitment work during the off-season, especially in contract renewal negotiations with key players. The club needs to find a balance between maintaining competitiveness and controlling the budget.
Although the naturalization issue has added variables to this transfer, it also reflects the flexibility of Chinese football in policy implementation from the side. Regardless of the final outcome, we look forward to seeing a more competitive Shandong Taishan and hope to see Chinese football become more mature and rational in its recruitment policies.
Believing that with the gradual confirmation of transfer details, we will soon see Leonardo donning the Shandong jersey once again. And this may become one of the most anticipated stories of the 2024 Chinese Super League season!