Due to the increasingly fierce competition in the Chinese Super League (CSL), various CSL teams are currently searching for strong new foreign players in the transfer market to enhance their team strength. Recently, according to multiple media reports, Shandong Taishan has made new moves in terms of foreign player recruitment. It is reported that Shandong Taishan will not renew the contract with the average Brazilian defender Marcelo but instead will strengthen and upgrade the foreign player lineup purposefully, aiming to return to the championship contention in the new season.
As we all know, Shandong Taishan had some visible problems in their foreign player configuration last season. Although they had five foreign players on paper, in reality, due to poor recruitment and injury impacts, Shandong Taishan often had to play with only 2 to 3 starting foreign players, which seriously affected the team's combat effectiveness.
Therefore, the management of Taishan team learned from the lessons of last season and decided to upgrade the foreign players in the new season, introducing players with more strength and adaptability. According to the Shandong Orange Wave Fan Club, Shandong Taishan will strengthen the weakest position in the midfield, the defensive midfielder. They have already targeted a midfielder from the Brazilian league, Guilherme Madruga, who plays for the Brazilian Serie A team Cuiabá Esporte Clube.
Guilherme Madruga is 24 years old this year, at the prime of his career. He plays as a defensive midfielder and comes from the Brazilian sports youth training system, being a young midfield talent that catches attention in the Brazilian league. At the beginning of this year, Madruga joined the Brazilian Serie A team Cuiabá Esporte Clube for a transfer fee of 740,000 euros. Although he did not get many playing opportunities in the Brazilian Serie A after the transfer, his performance in the games was eye-catching. The data shows that during his loan period with a Brazilian Serie B team, Madruga played 46 times, not only successfully completing interceptions and tackles but also scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists, demonstrating his versatility in both attack and defense.
It is worth mentioning that Madruga also won the Puskás Award in 2023, which is undoubtedly a great honor for a young player. Madruga's ability to win such an award fully proves his outstanding skills and creativity on the football field. As a B2B midfield powerhouse, Madruga possesses strong field coverage and interception capabilities. He can provide sufficient support to the team defensively while also showcasing excellent passing and breakthrough abilities offensively. This comprehensive technical feature allows him to play multiple roles in the game, becoming an important hub for the team's transition between attack and defense.
For Shandong Taishan, signing Madruga is undoubtedly a wise decision in terms of recruitment. It can be called a brilliant transfer move. We know that since Fellaini and Moises left, Shandong Taishan has not had a top-notch defensive midfielder who could stand alone, which was the main reason for the decline in their performance last season. Now, if Shandong Taishan can really sign this 24-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder, it would undoubtedly strengthen the team's last weak point. Considering that Shandong Taishan has a very luxurious foreign player lineup, and their biggest competitor Shanghai Port has lost several ace foreign players such as Oscar and Bargos, with the rise and fall of strength, Shandong Taishan really has a chance to win the CSL championship in the new season. In short, Shandong Taishan has great potential in the new season.