Ricardo Goulart of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates after scoring during the Group G match between China's Guangzhou Evergrande and South Korea's Jeju United at the 2018 AFC Champions League in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, March 6, 2018. Guangzhou Evergrande won 5-3. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Guangzhou Evergrande forward Ricardo Goulart has expressed his eagerness to play for China after becoming a naturalized Chinese citizen.
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou Evergrande forward Ricardo Goulart has expressed his eagerness to play for China after becoming a naturalized Chinese citizen.
The Brazilian-born striker, who uses the Chinese name Gao Late, returned to China to complete the naturalization process after agreeing to rescind his loan deal with Brazilian club Palmeiras in May.
"Though I still have some formalities to go through, I am fully ready to serve the Chinese team, and I am waiting for my call-up," said the 27-year-old striker in a video released on Thursday.
Ricardo Goulart of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates after scoring during the Group G match between China's Guangzhou Evergrande and South Korea's Jeju United at the 2018 AFC Champions League in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, March 6, 2018. Guangzhou Evergrande won 5-3. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
"I am a forward which is an important role on the field. I hope I can bring something positive to the national side along with other players who are as well important to the team," he said.
Former Chinese team head coach Marcello Lippi, who had repeatedly complained about a dearth of attacking options, introduced Brazilian-born striker Elkeson, the first-ever naturalized player without Chinese ancestry to play for the country, into his squad last August for their World Cup qualifiers against the Maldives, Guam, the Philippines and Syria.
Li Tie, who took over the Chinese side in January after the abrupt departure of Lippi, called up three naturalized players for a training camp in mid-May in Shanghai.
Goulart is set to be the fourth foreign-born player to feature in the Chinese side.
Ricardo Goulart of China's Guangzhou Evergrande FC celebrates after scoring during the round 6 match against South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the 2017 AFC Champions League in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, May 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
"This is the first time in my life to change nationality, and I feel very happy to be Chinese. The people here have been friendly and taking good care of me, I enjoy myself very much living in China," he said.
According to widespread press reports in Brazil, Guangzhou Evergrande, the most prestigious Chinese Super League club, persuaded Goulart to leave Palmeiras seven months earlier than planned by offering him a five-year contract extension and a pay rise.
Goulart has not played since suffering a right knee injury in late April. He subsequently underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage and is not expected to return to full fitness until July. ■