Former Manchester United player Chen Dayi has chosen to represent Curacao, with fans criticizing the football association for wrongly labeling the naturalization process.

According to the latest news from foreign media vigilantekorsou, 25-year-old former Manchester United player (Tahith Chong) and Chinese player Chen Dayihave chosen to representCuracao (ranked 86th in the world, 8 places higher than the national team)in competition. He is expected to join the Curacao national team in September and is likely to participate in the final stage of the North and Central American and Caribbean World Cup qualifiers, where there are 12 teams competing for 3 direct spots in the World Cup and 2 intercontinental playoff spots. Although Curacao is a small country with a population of only 140,000, they still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Chen Dayi, aged 25, is valued at 5 million euros, is a left-footed player capable of playing as an attacking midfielder and winger, and currently plays for Luton in League One (having been relegated twice, they played in the Premier League two seasons ago). He has also been selected for the Netherlands U21 national team, making 6 appearances.

When the news of Chen Dayi's choice to represent Curacao broke, fans criticized the Chinese Football Association for missing the opportunity to naturalize Chen Dayi, causing the national team to lose a strong player, as Chen Dayi's market value (5 million euros) is significantly higher than that of the highest-valued player in the national team, Serginho (1.7 million euros). Although the association usually does not take action, fans unjustly label the situation regarding Chen Dayi's naturalization.Why do they say this?Because Chen Dayi is afourth-generation Chinese descendant, he does not fit the same naturalization lineage as players like Jiang Guangtai, Li Ke, and Hou Yongyong. Therefore, it would be very challenging for the association to naturalize Chen Dayi, requiring a foreign naturalization route where the player must live in China for 5 years to be eligible, similar to Serginho