Contract Expires at Year-End: Why Did Shanghai Shenhua Terminate Mineiro Three Months Early?

September 7 was a shocking day for Shenhua fans, as the club officially announced that it had proactively terminated Mineiro's contract. As a result, Shenhua will have only four foreign players available for the AFC Champions League Two matches in mid-September. The question is: since Mineiro's contract was set to expire at the end of the year, why terminate it three months early?

Some fans have analyzed that the main reason was likely the Chinese FA Cup match between Dalian Yingbo and Shenhua, which Dalian Yingbo won 1-0. Mineiro came on as a substitute and, while the ball was not in play near him, he was accused of deliberately bringing down an opposing player and received an additional three-match suspension. After returning from injury, he did not show much improvement in form, scoring only two goals in eight matches, with one of them being a penalty given to him by the captain. Whether as a substitute or a starter, he did not demonstrate the level expected of a foreign player.

Secondly, Mineiro was frequently injured. The club's official termination statement said that since joining Shenhua in January 2025, he had made 34 appearances and scored 14 goals. Some fans said his appearance rate was simply too low. After all, there are 30 league matches in a season, plus at least three FA Cup matches and AFC Champions League games. Shenhua plays at least around 40 matches in a year and roughly 80 over two years, but Mineiro's availability was less than half of that. In the Chinese Super League, he made 14 appearances last year and eight this year, for a total of 22 matches.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian top-flight transfer window closes on September 11, leaving only four days. We will see whether there are any new developments regarding Mineiro. The writer recalls that his agent visited Shanghai some time ago, but it is unknown what was discussed.

Mineiro's departure is also beneficial for Shenhua's planning for next year. Shenhua's strongest attacking options now are Manafa and Azue. After Mineiro leaves, if the foreign-player policy is not adjusted, the attacking midfield and defensive midfield positions will likely need major reinforcements, because Shenhua still has forward Guy, who is reliable as a center forward, while Latang is suited to a shadow striker role. Speaking of Latang, his ability to stay fit deserves praise. He has played all 26 matches, scored 16 goals, and provided one assist. If he avoids yellow cards in the next three matches, he can complete a full 30-match season!

The writer believes that during the two years from Mineiro's signing to his departure, Shenhua paid a considerable price. One cost was financial, as he required a transfer fee and wages still had to be paid during injuries. Another was the sporting cost, because his long periods away from matches meant Shenhua's foreign-player resources were often incomplete. For example, in the AFC Champions League Two matches in mid-to-late September, Shenhua will only be able to field four foreign players. Shenhua has often operated with a four-foreign-player setup.