Made in ... No, not China; Brazil! The one who will play in the Chinese national football team this time is a Brazilian. Not of Chinese descent; Absolutely authentic Brazilian. Brazil also took a place in the national team squad. That Elkeson will be the first non-Chinese footballer in Chinese football history to play. He is likely to be seen in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Maldives on September 10.
Elkeson left Brazil in 2013 to play Chinese club football. An attacking midfielder or a second striker can play both roles. The 30-year-old was spotted by World Cup-winning coach Marcelo Lippi while working for a Chinese club. An Italian coach is now in charge of the Chinese national team. He called Eckelson for the next match. Before that, of course, I had to take citizenship. Elkesson even brought a Chinese feel to his name. His name is now I Casein.
Let's see how I started a new chapter with a new name. Brazil were in the squad for the match against Argentina in 2011 but did not play. Even if he played then, of course, there would be no problem. According to FIFA rules, playing for one national team, he has already overcome the break in the middle of signing up for another team.
Earlier, London-born Nico Yenaris was also granted Chinese citizenship. Nico, however, is semi-Chinese. The door of the national team has not played for him yet. Teams like Qatar, Bahrain or the United Arab Emirates have a preponderance of players born abroad. But the Chinese are very proud of their sense of nationalism. Desperate to succeed in football, he has never walked that path before. He opened the door with Elkeson. Who knows, maybe more Brazil-Argentina players will join their national team in the future. Many South American footballers now play in the Chinese league. Incredible amount of salary also matches there.
Elkeson has scored more than one hundred goals in the Chinese Super League. However, many in China did not like Lippi's decision. They are not willing to see a player who is not Chinese. Elkeson, however, says, ‘I want to tell the world, officially I have started a new journey. I am a Chinese, I want to give back some of the love that people here have given me for so many years. '