'Indonesia's Xuân Son' is about to complete naturalization

Ciro Alves, the Brazilian forward with Malut United, is said to be nearing the completion of his Indonesian citizenship process to soon play for the national squad.

Amid Southeast Asian football heated debates over naturalized players, Indonesia receives positive news as Malut United's Brazilian striker Ciro Alves is reportedly close to becoming an Indonesian citizen. This was indirectly confirmed by his wife, Maria Eduarda Mondadori (Duda), during a live social media broadcast.

According to Duda, their entire family plans to settle long-term in Bandung and even intends to start a business there. She stated: “We want to stay here forever. We will all become citizens.” This highlights Ciro Alves' serious commitment to Indonesia, where he has played for many years and built a stable life.

Born in 1989 in Brazil, Ciro Alves was once a promising talent in Samba football. He was called up to Brazil's U20 team and even scored in the U20 World Cup match against Australia. Currently, playing for Malut United in Indonesia's top league, Ciro is the main striker with 4 goals and 2 assists, demonstrating consistent performance despite being over 30 years old.

If his naturalization is completed, Ciro Alves could become a valuable option for the Indonesian national team, especially as they build a squad for major regional tournaments. His case reminds fans of Vietnam’s Nguyễn Xuân Son, a naturalized striker who quickly adapted and became a key player for the Golden Stars.

While Malaysia struggles with heavy FIFA penalties for using naturalized players improperly, Indonesia's cautious and transparent approach in naturalizing Ciro Alves is seen as a wise move. With international experience and good integration, Ciro promises to bring fresh energy to Garuda if given the chance to wear the national team jersey.

Can Ciro Alves be called up to Indonesia’s national team and help elevate the country’s football to the continental level?