Sept. 9: Mineiro Returns to Former Club, Shanghai Shenhua Suffer Losses, AFC Champions League Brings Tough Test, Lattan and Wu Xi Missing

Shanghai Shenhua's results this year have been disappointing, with multiple factors including injuries and frequent foreign-player-related issues affecting the team. Geye, who joined as a record signing in the Chinese Super League, scored five goals and provided two assists in seven league appearances, but a sudden Achilles tendon injury ended his season and became one of the key factors behind Shenhua's decline, eventually contributing to head coach Slutsky's departure.

After returning to the team, Asue injected new energy into the squad. He scored seven goals and provided four assists in 11 league matches, showing his ability. However, another foreign player, Mineiro, was sent off after an undisciplined action in the FA Cup match against Dalian after recovering from injury, and he was subsequently suspended.

On September 7, Shanghai Shenhua officially announced the termination of Mineiro's contract. Just one day later, Brazilian Serie B club Ceara announced his signing. The quick transition led some fans to question whether there were other reasons behind his previous red card incident. Regardless of the actual circumstances, the article believes Shanghai Shenhua was the party most affected by the situation. Looking back at the 2025 season, Shenhua spent 920,000 euros to sign Mineiro, but he missed a significant amount of time through injury during the two years and made only 34 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists.

From the outcome, the transfer resembled Ceara selling Mineiro and then bringing him back as a free agent two years later, while Shanghai Shenhua suffered considerable losses in the process. This serves as a reminder that clubs need to be more cautious when signing foreign players and cannot ignore potential injury risks.

The Chinese Super League has now entered a break period. However, Beijing Guoan, Shanghai Port, and Shanghai Shenhua, the three teams carrying AFC Champions League responsibilities, cannot afford to relax. They must quickly prepare for the upcoming continental competition and avoid problems at crucial moments. Unlike Guoan and Shanghai Port, who chose to bring in foreign players specifically for the AFC Champions League, Shenhua decided to continue with its current squad.

Since new head coach Milosevic took charge, the team has recorded two wins and three losses in his five matches, a result that has not fully met expectations. The upcoming AFC Champions League campaign will be a tougher challenge, and the team will also face a shortage of available players. Foreign striker Lattan was sent off in the final AFC Champions League match last season, and according to the rules, his suspension will carry over into this season's competition. At 20:15 on September 17, Shanghai Shenhua will host Tampines Rovers in the first group-stage match of the AFC Champions League Two. The two teams have never faced each other before, adding difficulty to Shenhua's opening match. Fortunately, there are no league fixtures around this match, allowing the team to focus fully. However, Shenhua will only be able to field three foreign players in the game.

In addition to Lattan being unavailable due to suspension, three players currently preparing for the Asian Games with the national team will also miss the match. The Asian Games squad gathered in Dalian on September 7, while North Korea U23, the first opponent of China's U23 national team, will play on September 16. Based on the schedule, Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie, and Yang Haoyu will not be able to return in time for the AFC Champions League match. This adds further difficulty for Shanghai Shenhua, who will have to compete with a depleted squad. The simultaneous absence of three key players from the team's spine will be a major test for new coach Milosevic.

This year, Shanghai Shenhua's midfield operation has largely relied on experienced veteran Wu Xi. He plays an important organizing role in both attack and defense. If he is unavailable, more responsibility will fall on foreign player Teixeira, who will need to take on greater duties in creation and coordination. In defense, Shenhua also faces major concerns. Newly signed defenders Yang Shuai and Li Songyi will form the defensive partnership in the AFC Champions League. Jin Shunkai, who previously suffered an injury, has started rehabilitation training, but whether he can return in time and reach match fitness remains uncertain. Looking back at the year, Shanghai Shenhua have already been eliminated from the FA Cup, and their hopes of finishing in the top two of the league are fading. Their remaining hope may be to achieve something in the AFC Champions League and restore confidence in their season.