Reporter Liu Xiangyu reports Wherever he goes, Serginho brings his own personal rehabilitator with him to ensure his fitness, which is his attitude towards the profession of football.

Attitude + ability, so that Serginho has been recognized by the fans, he has been playing in China's professional league for five years, completed the record of 100 games, and wore the armband of the captain of the Changchun Yatai team. The 2025 season, Serginho's sixth year in China, joined Beijing Guoan.

Guoan's introduction of Serginho is one of the biggest transfer deals of this winter window, and the addition of reinforcements in midfield shows Guoan's ambition to win the title in the new season. Serginho can play in multiple positions up front and will play even more under Setien.

As a major international player, Guoan cooperated with relevant parties to actively promote Serginho's naturalization work, and as of the time when Guoan officially announced his joining, Serginho's naturalization procedures had not yet been completed, and Guoan was ready for both.

A few days ago, the reporter of this newspaper interviewed Serginho, who couldn't wait to stand on the stadium of the Gongti to meet the Beijing fans.

◆Football: I spent four years in Brazil, then Japan, and now five years in China, which is longer than in Brazil.

Sergiño: Every time I make such a choice, I follow my heart. Before coming to China, I played in Japan for a season and a half, and after receiving an invitation from China, I decided to come to China after discussing it with my family. In the past five years, China has brought me and my family a lot of good memories. I think it helped me a lot to make that decision at the time.

Before coming to China, I communicated with my wife and parents, and they were very supportive of my decision. After arriving in Beijing, I shared with my wife the details of the club and my feelings in Beijing. I think it was a very rewarding choice.

◆You've been to Gongti as a visiting player before, and you've felt the fan atmosphere there. Now that you're about to play again as a home player, what are you looking forward to?

To be honest, I haven't been to Gongti since I joined Guoan, but I know the fans there are very welcoming. I've been in Changchun for the past five years and the fans in Changchun have given me a lot of support. I'm looking forward to fighting with the Beijing fans at Gongti and feeling their enthusiasm.

◆You have been in Changchun Yatai for so long, what kind of feelings do you have for the Yatai team?

I am very grateful to Changchun Yatai for bringing me to China and helping me get acquainted with life and work here. There, I also became the captain. Although I am now in a new team, Changchun has a special place in my heart.

◆You played 100 games in Changchun, which is a great achievement for a professional footballer, what do you think of it?

It's not easy, and it proves that I have the form and the ability. I am very grateful to Changchun and to the Changchun fans. They may be sad when I leave Changchun, but I believe they also hope that I can go to a higher platform to develop. I will continue to work hard to live up to everyone's expectations.

◆Changchun's football style is obvious, as China's northernmost Chinese Super League team, the weather is cold, and the team's playing style is also very tough, do you agree with this statement?

Yes, I felt it when I arrived in Changchun. It's cold, the atmosphere is direct, everyone is fighting the pitch, and that style makes the game exciting.

◆You scored 8 goals last season, are you happy with that statistic? Between goals and assists, which do you prefer?

I'm never satisfied, and every year I want to be better than the previous year. Whether it's scoring goals or assists, the most important thing for me is to help the team and create a threat. I'm going to try to be in the danger zone and fight for the team to win.

◆You have been working in China for five years, you must know Chinese culture very well, can you speak Chinese? Do you have any special feelings about Chinese food?

I have learned a lot in China in the past five years, and I have gradually adapted and become accustomed to life here. My friends would recommend new dishes to me, such as noodles and roast duck, and I became more and more proficient with chopsticks. I am enjoying my life in China and looking forward to experiencing more things that are unique to China.

◆Has your lover been to Beijing before? Does she like life in Beijing? Does your child speak Chinese?

When I was playing in China, my lover was always there for me. In February, she will bring her children to Beijing to live with me. I'm now looking for a school for my children and arranging their studies. The eldest daughter has good English and has been studying in an international school. The youngest daughter was taken care of by an aunt before, Chinese listening is okay, simple communication is no problem, and sometimes I can be my little translator.

◆Football: When did you receive the invitation from Guoan? What was your first reaction when you received an invitation?

Serginho: It was probably at the end of last year that the two sides had some substantive contacts, and since then they have been in close communication. When I received the invitation, I felt very happy and immediately discussed the next steps with my family and loved ones. I am looking forward to joining Guoan and taking on new challenges.

◆What do you think of the Guoan team as an opponent? Do you remember one year when you scored a goal shortly after the opening game against Guoan?

As an opponent, I want to perform well every time I play against Guoan, because Guoan is a very strong team and playing against them stimulates my fighting spirit. I remember that goal, about seven minutes into the game. I'm also very happy to score against Guoan.

◆After joining Guoan, what position are you likely to appear in the lineup? Which is better for 10 or 8?

The specific position should be arranged according to the coach's tactics, with the No. 10 position being further forward and the No. 8 position slightly behind. Personally, I'm more inclined to be a number 10, closer to goal and more likely to create a threat. But in the end, it is necessary to obey the requirements of the team's tactical system and overall balance.

◆Has Coach Setien spoken to you? Through this stage of training, what do you think about the quality of training and the technical route of Guoan?

The coach has had some communication with everyone, but he has not made any special detailed requests for me personally. Through the past few days of training, I really like the style of the team, each player has his own characteristics, and he works well together. I believe that coaching can bring a lot of new things to us and bring out our potential.

◆Guoan is a championship team, what changes do you think you need to make in your style of play?

In Changchun, you may play more defensive counterattacks, and when you come to Guoan, you may have to press your opponent more. It was a challenge for me, but I was confident that I would adapt. I hope to help the team achieve better results and compete for the league title.

◆Guoan's foreign players and local players are stronger than Yatai, where you have enough time on the ball, but in Guoan you will spend less time on the ball, how will that affect your performance?

Guoan has more players in the national team, and the overall level, game speed and position competition of the players are different from Changchun. In a better team, I also need to keep improving myself, playing at a higher level than I did in Changchun, and working hard with my team-mates.

◆Do you remember the 8-1 Yatai game at home last year? What happened then?

We had chances at the start of the game, but there was chaos in the team after the goal was conceded, which led to a series of goals and everyone's form was affected. However, after that game, Changchun's performance was not bad, and in the end they managed to be relegated, and I am happy for the team.

◆Why did you choose the number 7 jersey?

There are not many numbers to choose from, there are 7, 21, 22, and 23. In contrast, I think number 7 is good and hopefully it will bring me good luck.

◆Guoan has not had a skilled foreign midfielder for a long time, and fans and media are looking forward to you revitalizing the team in this position.

That's what I'm here to do, and I hope to play a good role on the pitch, to give a good game to the fans, and to help the team achieve good results. Although the overall style of play at Guoan will be very different from before, I will try to show a higher level of ability to meet this challenge.

◆What was your goal in coming to Beijing Guoan, to help the team win the league title?

I talked to my teammates about this goal as well. I'm here to help the team get good results and the league title is what we're working for. But to achieve this goal, all the preparations need to be done, one step at a time, and I believe we can do it.

◆Football: Everyone is still expecting you to become a player of the Chinese national team, how are the formalities going? Do you pay more attention to the matches of the Chinese national team?

Serginho: It's a great honor for me to join the Chinese national team [in the future], the formalities are being processed, and I look forward to completing it soon. I watched some of the national team games and the one against Bahrain was the one that stood out the most. I think the players of the Chinese national team are very hardworking, and there are excellent players from the front to the back, but there is still room for improvement in the technical ability of the front court. Now the confidence in the team is growing and it's important to get a good result and I believe this year is a good opportunity.

◆There is news that the head coach of the national team, Ivankovic, has communicated with you, is it true? Everyone expects you and Oscar to join to improve the Chinese team's attack, what do you think?

I did talk to the Football Association. When we join the national team, we will definitely improve the team and help everyone do better in the game. But football games do not depend on a few people, the Chinese team itself has the strength, and we will work together.

◆Coming to China from Japan is a big decision, and joining the Chinese national team is even more significant, how do you feel about it?

Joining the Chinese national team makes me happier than coming to China from Japan. If I have the opportunity to represent the Chinese team in the World Cup, it is a very important milestone and goal for me. I think players from any country are eager to represent their national team in the World Cup, and I cherish this opportunity.

◆Chinese fans call you "Sai Bird", you know? Would you consider choosing a more catchy name in the future?

I know that everyone calls me Sainiao, and I really haven't thought about the name carefully, so I may choose a better one to remember when the time comes, so that everyone can call it conveniently.

◆In the past, the Chinese national team also had naturalized players, but the effect was not ideal, what do you think is the reason? Where do you think you are in your career and are you confident about integrating into the national team?

I think it probably has something to do with the stage of the naturalized players' careers at the time, maybe they were late in their careers. I'm in the prime of my game right now and I have a lot of internationals in the squad, especially the front-court players, which has helped me integrate into the national team.

◆You have witnessed Cao Yongjing's growth, can you share your feelings? You'll still play together in the national team, are you looking forward to that?

I watched Cao Yongjing go from Guoan to Changchun Yatai, and then back to Guoan, growing step by step, and having his own position in the national team. I'm very happy for him, I wish him to continue to improve, and I'm looking forward to playing alongside him."