BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazil 's football champions Corinthians present its new Chinese player Chen Zhizhao, who it hopes will expand the brand into the Asian country

Record ID: 254396

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazil 's football champions Corinthians present its new Chinese player Chen Zhizhao, who it hopes will expand the brand into the Asian country
  • Date: 3rd March 2012
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MARCH 01, 2012) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL CLUB CORINTHIANS/ SIGN CHINESE DRAGONS WALKING ONTO STAGE DURING CEREMONY TO PRESENT CORINTHIANS' NEW CHINESE PLAYER, CHEN ZHIZHAO CHINESE PLAYER CHEN ZHIZHAO WALKING ONTO STAGE VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT OF CORINTHIANS, MARIO GOBBI, GIVING ZHIZHAO HIS N
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAABIUAGBOG16MZFP045AYGXY8R
  • Story Text: Brazilian champion Corinthians presented on Thursday (March 01) its new Chinese midfielder Chen Zhizhao, as part of its efforts to lure investments in the Asian giant.
    The 23-year old, who played for China 's Nanchang Hengyuan, is the first Chinese player to ever sign with a top Brazilian club.
    Corinthians prepared a flashy ceremony in an auditorium decorated with Chinese lamps and flags, which also featured a typical Chinese dragon dance.
    Zhizhao played for Chinese club Nanchang Hengyuan and had spent six months with Portugal 's Trofense in 2008.
    In a news conference before his first training session, Zhizhao said he was surprised by the warm welcome and said he was prepared to learn Portuguese.
    "I really did not expect such a big welcome celebration and I am surprised. I think all this is because I'm Chinese and this is something new in Brazil . I played one season in Portugal , so I know a little bit of Portuguese, such as the word 'obrigado' (thank you)," he said.
    The Corinthians loan will last two years, but the contract may be extended depending on Zhizhao's performance.
    Zhizhao said he expected fans to like him.
    "From what I read in some newspapers, some fans are supporting me, while others are questioning me. But I will maintain what I said -- I think that you will like me," he said.
    The idea to sign the player came from the club's marketing department that, a few years ago, signed Brazil striker star Ronaldo, when the star was recovering from a serious knee injury. The idea proved successful and Ronaldo won the hearts of the club's fans.
    Rosenberg told reporters that Zhizhao would increase Corinthians's popularity abroad.
    "What our marketing department is trying to do, is to show the world a different aspect of Corinthians, which has nothing to do with the team itself, that is, our fans. If you look at a map of the world and ask yourself where there might be people who are similar to our crazy fans, that place is China . I won't find this in England," he said.
    Although Corinthians' 24 million fans have never seen Zhizhao's abilities on the field, his arrival is being well received by most.
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