Ready for deployment
Sigh, don’t know how the fans who care about Chinese football are feeling? I can’t get over it
SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — China named Elkeson in its squad for the World Cup qualifier with the Brazilian poised to be the first player without Chinese ancestry to play for the country.
Coach Marcello Lippi has long complained about a dearth of attacking options and has moved to plug the gap with the 30-year-old, who will use the Chinese name Aikesen.
The move to naturalize a Brazilian is controversial and comes after China similarly gave a passport to London-born midfielder Nico Yennaris.
The former Arsenal man, however, is half-Chinese, whereas Guangzhou Evergrande striker Elkeson qualifies for China having played in the country since 2013.
Along with Espanyol forward Wu Lei and Yennaris, Elkeson is part of a 35-man squad named by Italian World Cup winner Lippi for China's game at the Maldives on 10 September. Elkeson appears likely to be the start of a growing trend for perennial under-achievers China.
Fellow Brazilians Ricardo Goulart and Fernando are both reportedly set to be naturalized along with English defender Tyias Browning, also of Evergrande. Although many other nations, notably 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, call up players born in other countries, China had resisted doing so until now.
But respected football commentator Zhan Jun recently hinted at public discord, writing to his 16 million followers on the Twitter-like Weibo: "Sigh, don't know how the fans who care about Chinese football are feeling?
"I can't get over it," said Zhan in a post that drew thousands of comments.
Elkeson appears likely to be the start of a growing trend for perennial under-achievers China.