Although Oscar and Bargas chose to leave as free agents, transferring to the Brazilian league and the Saudi Professional League respectively, Shanghai Port continues to strengthen its lineup in an orderly manner. After spending 300,000 euros to acquire Vital, the former No. 10 player of the Brazilian national youth team for the midfield position, they also brought Leonardo, who has scored highly in the Chinese Super League over the past two years, into their ranks.
It is well known that Leonardo scores many goals, but his assist ability has always been underestimated. He is not a center forward, or rather, letting him play upfront would be very ineffective because he is not fast and does not have much dribbling ability.
The most suitable configuration for Leonardo is still a center forward paired with a speedy spearhead teammate, allowing him to receive the ball at a relatively advanced midfielder or winger position.
On the one hand, Leonardo likes to retreat to deeper positions to receive the ball and organize the attack. On the other hand, his small-ball wall-passing cooperation in the core area is also excellent, which may all be reasons why Shanghai Port selected him.
Leonardo has a flaw in that he is unwilling to defend. Once the team loses possession, he often stands completely still, which could be a significant problem.
It remains to be seen whether Muscat can help him change. Considering Wu Lei's age and injuries, as well as the new foreign midfielder Vital's defensive effectiveness possibly not being as good as Oscar's, this could weaken Shanghai Port's offensive and defensive balance.
The team can consider not starting all the aces together in some games. After all, Leonardo's scoring efficiency is high, and it can also provide Wu Lei with some rest space.
If the team can further strengthen with a foreign winger, then the new season's lineup will still be quite complete and competitive, and the possibility of winning the league championship three times in a row is still very likely to happen.
From the current information, it is highly likely that Aifelding will join Shanghai Port, and he is still a compatible combination with Leonardo. Taking into account Leonardo's proficiency in wall-passing and small-ball passing, Vital, Jusa, Gustavo, and Wu Lei can also produce a chemical reaction with Leonardo.
Although it can be said that from the lineup, Shanghai Port's foreign aid lineup for the new season is weaker than last season, but on the football field, there is often a 1+1 greater than 2 effect. If the team can play out the team cooperation, who dares to say that Leonardo, abandoned by Shandong Taishan, cannot be one of the core competitiveness on the road to Shanghai Port's three consecutive Chinese Super League titles!