Naturalised national team star Elkeson has promised to keep playing for China – and help them in their bid for Asian Cup glory – despite returning to play in his former homeland of Brazil. The 32-year-old forward, known as Ai Kesen in China, terminated his contract with Guangzhou in February after 10 seasons in the Chinese Super League, signing for Gremio on a free transfer on Wednesday. Elkeson will be registered as a Chinese player at his new club, and expressed his desire to represent the national team at the 2023 Asian Cup on home soil, and in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. “I plan to participate in the Asian Cup next year,” he said at a press conference announcing his signing at Gremio. “I still have to help Chinese football. The Chinese fans like me very much, so I want to play an Asian Cup at a high level and help the national team win the championship.” Elkeson was dropped along with China’s other naturalised Brazilian players for last month’s final two World Cup qualifiers, with the team already out of contention for reaching Qatar 2022. “Unfortunately we didn’t get in to the World Cup, but we still have a chance in the next cycle,” Elkeson added at Wednesday’s unveiling. Elkeson won four league titles with Guangzhou over two spells at the club, as well as two AFC Champions Leagues. He also won the 2018 league title and the 2019 FA Super Cup with Shanghai SIPG, scoring a total of 123 goals in 191 games in China. A two-time golden boot winner and the 2014 Chinese FA Footballer of the Year, Elkeson gained Chinese citizenship in 2019 and received his first call-up to the national team in August 2019. He set a precedent as the first player to be called up by China without any Chinese ancestry, and has scored four goals in his 13 appearances, though the team have struggled for form and managed just one win in their last 10 matches, with six defeats. CAMISA 9⃣ #ReforçoTricolor O atacante Elkeson foi apresentado oficialmente nesta quarta-feira e mandou um recado especial pra vocês! Aos 32 anos, ele chega da China pra ajudar o grupo nos desafios desta temporada. 💪⚽️ Leia mais em: https://t.co/JgwB2uK7N2 pic.twitter.com/ChN848mJf0 — Grêmio FBPA (@Gremio) April 13, 2022 Elkeson had signed for Guangzhou as a 23-year-old from Brazilian side Botafogo, where he scored 19 goals in 65 appearances during the 2011-12 season. “I said no to several clubs, especially a club that rivals Botafogo,” he told Brazilian media. “I chose Gremio for its greatness. “In 2005 I played a final against Gremio and the club caught my attention. The shirt is also one of the most beautiful in Brazilian football.”