Mireino Returns to Ceara as Shanghai Shenhua Face Squad Challenges Before AFC Champions League Campaign

In the August 1? match report timeline, the September 1 FA Cup quarter-final saw Shenhua trailing Dalian Yingbo 1-0 while having an extra player. Shaulo Mineiro came on in the 57th minute and was sent off after kicking an opponent's leg off the ball following a VAR review, ending Shenhua's cup hopes.

On September 4, the Chinese Football Association disciplinary committee suspended Mineiro for three matches and fined him 15,000 yuan for violent conduct. The additional suspension was transferred to league matches.

On September 7, Shenhua announced the termination of Mineiro's contract, noting only that he made 34 appearances and scored 14 goals since joining in January 2025.

Less than a day later, Brazilian club Ceara announced Mineiro's return. The contract runs until the end of the 2026 season, marking his third spell with the club.

The six-day sequence from red card to departure and less than one day from departure to a new club announcement led fans to question the incident.

Shenhua paid about 950,000 US dollars, around €920,000, to sign Mineiro from Ceara in January 2025 on a deal originally lasting until December 2026, but received no transfer fee after his exit.

Mineiro had a strong start, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 14 league matches in the first half of the 2025 season, winning the Super Cup and scoring quickly against Vissel Kobe in the AFC Champions League.

His decline began after a tendon injury against Shenzhen Peng City. After returning, he suffered more injuries and made only eight league appearances this season, with two starts and two goals.

The striker Shenhua bought for €920,000 spent much of his two years affected by injuries. Transfermarkt currently values him at €1 million.

Mineiro misspelled Shanghai Shenhua's pinyin in his farewell video. Brazilian reports said he gave up some financial benefits to return to Ceara, a choice supported by the club and coach.

Mineiro's departure did not end Shenhua's foreign-player issues. Gai performed well before injury, Asue remains a reliable scorer, and Laton cannot play in the AFC competition because of a previous red card suspension.

On September 17, Shenhua will host Singapore side Tampines Rovers in the AFC Champions League Two Group G opener. Machida Zelvia and Svay Rieng are also in the group.

The biggest difficulty for this match is the shortage of available players.

Laton will miss the match because a suspension from last season's AFC Champions League Elite competition carries over under AFC disciplinary rules.

Laton has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season and is a key attacking player, so his absence affects Shenhua's forward structure.

Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie and Yang Haoyu were selected for China's U23 Asian Games squad, creating a schedule conflict with Shenhua's September 17 match.

The three players respectively provide midfield control, defensive leadership and attacking rotation options, leaving coach Milosevic with fewer choices.

Without Zhu Chenjie, Yang Shuai and Li Songyi may form the centre-back partnership. Jin Shunkai's recovery status remains uncertain, while other players are injured.

Shenhua's available foreign players for the AFC match are only Asue, Teixeira and Manafa, who must cover attack, midfield and the wings.

With Wu Xi absent, more creative responsibility falls on Teixeira. Observers believe Shenhua lost squad depth by not adding AFC-specific foreign players in the summer.

Milosevic has recorded two wins and three losses in his first five matches. After being eliminated from the FA Cup, Shenhua can focus fully on the AFC opener.

The Group G schedule is crowded, and Shenhua's early points will determine how much room they have before facing stronger opponents such as Machida Zelvia.

On September 17 at Shanghai Stadium, Shenhua will face a Singapore opponent they have never played before with only three foreign players and an incomplete squad.