As the contract year came to an end, Shandong Taishan failed to reach an agreement with the player to extend his contract. The player has been on the pitch for more than five years as a naturalized player, and a non-blood naturalization slot is expected to be reserved for him next year. Meanwhile, Beijing Guoan has launched a naturalization plan for Serginho, and Oscar, the former Cangzhou Lions' foreign aid player, has also become a popular candidate on the naturalization list. In the face of such competition, Shandong Taishan will obviously not make a hasty decision to extend the contract, and the team is actively considering other naturalization options. Delgado will have to wait for the completion of his status change before he can be expected to stay, but his status as a naturalized player makes him not worry about a new Chinese Super League owner.
Fernando's contract is also due to expire shortly and it is reported that he has a strong intention of not renewing his contract, preferring to continue playing for Shenhua. Pato's situation is similar to Fernando's, and Shandong Taishan will also not renew his contract. Currently, Wako, Cressan, and Zeca make up the team's main attacking line, and the team has no plans to sign a new center forward in the future, and there is no possibility of loaned players, including Leonardo, returning to the team. With the AFC Cup final approaching, Cressan has resumed training to prepare for his return to the field. Gao Junyi's return is still a long way off.
Having reached the FA Cup final for two consecutive years, Shandong Taishan won the title last year under the leadership of Cui Lao. This year, facing Muscat's more versatile tactics, it's certainly a meeting of footballing philosophies. Although Wu Lei may not be able to play, the trident of Oscar, Vargas and Gustavo still has a powerful attacking force. On paper, the Taishan team is slightly underpowered, but Choi Kang-hee has a wealth of experience at the tactical level and specializes in winning with the weak. The team plans to learn from the tactics of the AFC Champions League in an effort to break the embarrassing situation of two consecutive years without a title.
