Brazil’s Oscar willing to help China if Fifa change eligibility rules
- Brazilian midfielder tips his countrymen such as Elkeson to aid the Chinese national team after naturalisation
- Former Chelsea star will reach five years residency in country next year but ineligible after playing 47 times for Brazil
Shanghai SIPG’s Brazilian midfielder Oscar has expressed his interest in playing for China, should Fifa eligibility rules change to allow it.
“As far as I can, I can think about,” Oscar told CGTN, the English-language broadcast arm of state television CCTV, when asked if he would consider playing for China.
“It’s difficult to go to Brazil national team now because I’m here, but in China everyone sees how good I play.
“If in the end, if the China national team need one good midfielder, so I can help if they change. I like China but I think the players now, if they go to change the nationality to go to China, they can do better also.”
Several Brazilians have naturalised to become Chinese citizens with Oscar’s former Shanghai SIPG teammate Elkeson becoming the first to play for the national team. Others to have followed include Ricardo Goulart, Alan and Fernandinho, although none have been given international clearance by Fifa.
Elkeson, now known as Ai Kesen, was eligible to play for China because he had reached five years residency in China to naturalise and had not played a competitive international for Brazil.