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Ricardo Goulart has left Guangzhou FC and returned to Brazil

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Brazilian striker Ricardo Goulart, who took Chinese citizenship to help his adopted country reach the World Cup, has ended his contract with the Chinese Super League club Guangzhou FC and returned to South America.

Goulart was one of five Brazilian players who took Chinese citizenship in 2019, but that year a loan spell from Palmeiras prevented him from meeting FIFA’s requirements for a change of nationality.

The 30-year-old won three CSL titles and an Asian Champions League with Guangzhou FC, but his owners, the real estate giants Evergrande, are leaving the club in dire financial straits as they struggle with the liquidity crisis.

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“The best option was to suspend the contract, both for me and for the club,” Goulart said Xinhua the news agency left Guangzhou Baiyun Airport with his family on Friday.

“I want to thank all my Chinese fans, their support and love will always be with me in the future.”

Italy’s World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro stepped down as coach of Guangzhou FC in September, “by mutual agreement”.

Goulart, known in China as Gao Late, played for a non-competitive international in Brazil in 2014 and was not classified in the adopted country to play in his adopted country until 2025, due to Palmeiras ’loan period.

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Naturalized Brazilian-born Alan Carvalho, Elkeson and Aloisio took part in China’s 1-1 draw against Oman on Thursday, which gave another blow to the country’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup final in Qatar.

Coach Li Tie was ruled out of the decision to replace striker Aloisio in the second half, shortly after Oman drew level, leaving China fifth in Group B of Asia to play five games. The first two in the series have qualified for Qatar.

China have only appeared once in the 2002 World Cup finals, finishing last in their group after losing three games without conceding a goal.

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