The calm winter transfer window has been shattered by a massive stone, as a strong reinforcement with an 18 million Euro valuation joins, signaling a change in approach for a former Chinese Super League (CSL) champion. No wonder they gave up on the strongest naturalization candidate!
Since the CSL embarked on its salary cap journey, there hasn't been much attention paid to which clubs are signing which players. After all, world-class stars used to look down on the CSL and wouldn't consider playing here. Nowadays, CSL club signings are like opening blind boxes. Of course, even big-name stars who come to the CSL can have underwhelming performances, such as Tevez and Sha Lawei.
The 2024 season and winter transfer window have been open for some time now, but the transfers and signings have been relatively quiet. Instead, it's the move of Ma Lalei from Shanghai Shenhua to Dalian Yibo that has generated a lot of discussion. Does this mean that after the CSL's salary cap, there really aren't any capable foreign players willing to play?
Changchun Yatai has been fighting for relegation survival in recent years, yet they once won the CSL title. Leonardo, borrowed from Shandong Taishan, performed exceptionally well and helped the team avoid relegation, but the club chose not to sign him permanently and instead let him go to Zhejiang FC. Serginho, who had served the team for many years and was close to being naturalized, was surprisingly sent to Beijing Guoan. Is Changchun Yatai destined to continue scraping by?
The first batch of national team naturalizations has failed, with Oscar and Serginho, two naturalized players, especially Serginho, who was expected to bolster the national team's midfield and create more opportunities upfront. Surprisingly, Changchun Yatai did not choose to naturalize Serginho but left it to Beijing Guoan to handle.
When many fans were lamenting why Changchun Yatai didn't seize such a good opportunity, the club's latest signing provided a revelation. Journalist Miao Yuan revealed that Changchun Yatai has signed a 2+1 contract with French midfielder Cyrano Ciprian, who plays for Parma. Ciprian is an excellent midfielder whose peak market value reached 18 million Euros.
It's said that newly promoted Yunnan Yulong also wanted Ciprian but couldn't secure the deal. It seems Changchun Yatai has swooped in to snatch him. This significant foreign signing indicates that the club's management wants to change their approach. With the CSL implementing salary caps, Changchun Yatai indeed has the chance to make some waves. What do you think?