Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

In a recent interview,MK sport the head coach of China's national men's basketball team, Guo Shiqiang, emphasized that naturalized players are an "inevitable trend" for the team if it wants to remain competitive, which stirred up debate on the matter of naturalization once again.

Some argue that the integration of naturalized athletes has become a global phenomenon, while others disagree, saying this hampers the cultivation of domestic talent.  

But this strategy, widely adopted in global sports, reflects a pragmatic approach to bridging talent gaps. 

For instance, the football Chinese Super League (CSL) has welcomed new naturalized players like Brazilian-born Elkeson (Ai Kesen) and Portuguese-Chinese Nico Yennaris (Li Ke), who have bolstered the national team's prospects. 

While debates persist, the trend underscores a critical reality: Naturalization is no longer an exception but a strategic necessity.

The primary argument for naturalized athletes lies in their ability to deliver immediate improvements. 

China's football and basketball teams have struggled internationally for years. The men's football team last qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2002, while the basketball team failed to advance past the group stage at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

Naturalized players, however, offer a shortcut to maintaining competitiveness. For example, the Qatar football team's 2019 Asian Cup triumph was fueled by naturalized stars like Almoez Ali (born in Sudan) and Bassam Al-Rawi (Iraqi-born), whose technical prowess transformed the team. 

Similarly, the Philippines' basketball team, bolstered by naturalized NBA veteran Andray Blatche, became a consistent Asian contender. 

In China, Elkeson's goal-scoring record in the CSL and his contributions to Guangzhou FC's Asian Champions League victories highlight how naturalized players can raise a team's ceiling.

Beyond raw talent, naturalized athletes act as conduits for global best practices. Brazilian-born Alan Carvalho, who represented China in World Cup qualifiers with the Chinese name A Lan, once introduced South American flair to the CSL, accelerating the league's pace. 

In basketball, the influx of foreign coaches and players, such as former NBA guard Stephon Marbury, who later spent more than a decade in playing and coaching in China's top-tier basketball league CBA, has elevated local players' understanding of the sport.  

Japan's basketball resurgence in recent years, driven partly by naturalized center Nick Fazekas, exemplifies how exposure to international standards can inspire domestic talent. 

When naturalized athletes train and compete alongside local players, they can create an effect forcing teammates to adapt to higher-intensity play.

But it should be noted that naturalization's success hinges on cultural assimilation. Players who lack a genuine connection to their adopted nation risk becoming mercenaries. Take Algeria's football team for example. Despite naturalizing French-Algerian stars like Riyad Mahrez, the squad's unity and passion stem from a shared heritage. 

Conversely, China's naturalization experiment with Nico Yennaris, an England-born midfielder with Chinese ancestry, has been even more culturally seamless, as his public embrace of Chinese language and traditions has fostered fan acceptance. 

By contrast, naturalized athletes perceived as "hired guns" often face skepticism. Chinese football's earlier experiment with non-heritage naturalized footballer Ricardo Goulart, known in China as Gao Late, backfired due to his lack of cultural connection after he returned to his Brazil nationality in 2023.Thus, China must prioritize cultural education and long-term engagement to ensure naturalized players embody national pride.

Critics argue that naturalization undermines grassroots development, but evidence suggests the opposite. Spain's football team from 2008 to 2012, considered the golden generation as they dominated global tournaments, coexisted with naturalized stars like Brazilian-born Marcos Senna, whose presence in the midfield created space for Spain's local talents like Andres Iniesta to shine. 

Similarly, Chinese football academies in cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai have begun integrating methodologies from naturalized players' home countries. 

For basketball, the NBA's G-League Ignite program - which blends young prospects with seasoned international players - offers a blueprint: Pairing naturalized veterans with homegrown rookies accelerates skill transfer.

Moreover, short-term success through naturalization can reignite public interest. 

National team achievements, even partially fueled by naturalized players, create aspirational role models - a vital catalyst for sustainable growth.

Naturalized athletes are not a panacea, but they are a pragmatic tool for China's sports revival. The key lies in striking a balance: leveraging their skills while nurturing cultural belonging, and using their presence to amplify - not replace - youth development. 

Chinese football is expected to see fresh naturalized faces as Serginho of Beijing Guoan and Oscar Maritu of Yunnan Yukun are the latest names in the midst of the naturalization process.

Countries like Japan, Spain, France and Germany have mastered this equilibrium, blending naturalized stars with homegrown systems to achieve lasting success. 

For China, the path forward is clear: Embrace globalization's realities without losing sight of the ultimate goal - a self-sustaining sports ecosystem where naturalization complements, rather than overshadows, organic growth.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]