Sorry Fernandinho eyes 'new phase'

Guangzhou Evergrande forward Fernandinho has pledged to "begin a new phase" after apologizing for going AWOL during preseason.

However, the Brazil-born attacker will now have to back up his remorse with actions if he is play his way into Team China's plans as the newest addition to the nation's naturalized ranks.

Fernandinho was fined 3 million yuan ($430,000) after missing a chunk of Evergrande's recent training camp in Dubai, where club officials were unable to establish his whereabouts for several days.

The brazen breach of discipline sparked a wave of criticism from fans and pundits and raised concerns that China's reported decision to grant Fernandinho citizenship, with a view to him being available for national team selection, was unwise.

Writing on social media on Tuesday, a contrite Fernandinho promised to turn over a new leaf.

"As today I turn 27, I begin a new phase in my life. Personally I'm closer than ever to my family, friends and those who I love and are kind to me," he said.

"I am embarking on my first full season with the great Guangzhou Evergrande, where I could not be happier or more motivated to develop as a footballer.

"I would also like to take the opportunity to apologize for anything that I have done that may have somehow hurt this institution. Defending this giant Chinese football club is my only goal and I never intended to create any kind of problem for myself or the club.

"I hope to achieve all my personal and professional goals during my time in Guangzhou to become an example on and off the field."

Fernandinho's apology had been viewed over 44 million times on Weibo by early Wednesday, but many fans doubted if it was enough to fully placate Evergrande and Team China coach Li Tie.

Chinese publication Soccer News reported that all Evergrande players should have assembled in Dubai for training on Feb 25, but Fernandinho did not show up until early March.

The situation was made all the more embarrassing considering Evergrande had fined the player before even officially announcing his arrival at the club.

Fernandinho began his Chinese Super League career at Chongqing Lifan in 2015 before moving to Hebei China Fortune last year. Evergrande then recruited him in January, reportedly aiming to nurture him as the country's next naturalized star.

"After learning of Fernandinho's breach of discipline, Evergrande chairman Xu Jiayin was very angry. He personally called the club asking for a severe penalty for Fernandinho," sports journalist Li Xuan wrote on Weibo. "The club will decide if Fernandinho will rejoin the team for forthcoming training sessions based on his attitude towards the penalty.

"Fernandinho should now have a better understanding of Evergrande's strict management style. If Fernandinho thinks he can do whatever he wants as a naturalized player, that would be a mistake. Never mind naturalized players, even former Evergrande coach Marcello Lippi was fined 100,000 yuan by the club."

China's naturalization strategy still has many doubters to win over. Brazil-born Ai Kesen (aka Elkeson) and England-born Li Ke (aka Nico Yennaris) have underwhelmed so far in the red of China, with the nation's chances of reaching the 2022 World Cup finals looking slim.

With four more first-round qualifiers to play, China is now eight points adrift of Group A leader Syria and only leads third-place Philippines on goal difference. The eight group winners and four best second-place finishers will enter a second phase of Asian qualifying.

After being appointed in January, head coach Li has not appeared overly enthusiastic about the naturalization policy, with Ai Kesen the only foreign-born player selected for his recent national team training camp in Dubai.