Opinion | Possibility of naturalised players in the Chinese Super League puts a different complexion on football’s future
- Are we about to see Chinese national team scouts searching far and wide for Chinese sounding names?
The concept of naturalised footballers seems new but it has a long history. Indeed Italy won the first World Cup in 1938 with players of Italian heritage born and raised in South America that they naturalised ahead of the tournament while Diego Costa is the latest in a long list to represent Spain dating back to the 1920s. However, it is new for China.
The 25-year-old Londoner, who is also eligible to play for Cyprus, is now at Brentford in the Championship while 20-year-old Hou is at Stabaek in the Tippeligen. Both are eligible through their mothers and would be good signings. They would also surely lead a charge from all CSL clubs to exploit the new ruling and find players eligible for naturalisation.
Last year, 15-year-old Spanish footballing hopeful Jesus Carrasco Zhou expressed his interest in taking up Chinese citizenship in order to facilitate his dream of turning professional. There are plenty more players who are further along in their careers who will now be on the radar of Chinese clubs.
Tahith Chong at Manchester United, who was named young player of the year at last season’s awards, is one of them although the 18-year-old Netherlands youth international has expressed his desire to make it at Old Trafford. Similarly, CSKA Moscow’s Li Tenglong has been mentioned. The Russian born youngster is also eligible to play for Vietnam but was called up to China under-19s earlier this year. Javen Siu, a 19-year-old defender, at Southampton is another.