Sports · Football · 6 hrs ago
Persija midfielder Fabio Calonego considers Indonesian naturalisation
Fabio Calonego, a Brazilian midfielder at Persija Jakarta, is considering Indonesian citizenship and the possibility of playing for Indonesia's national football team.
He says people in Indonesia have suggested he become a citizen, and he feels comfortable living and playing there.
He says he needs four more years in Indonesia's league without playing in another country before he can apply, though he would still need to meet the applicable requirements.
Playing for Indonesia is not his main priority right now, and he says he is taking his career year by year.
He has never played for a national team, and he considers a place in Brazil's team difficult to reach.
His family's well-being comes first, and he says he feels settled in his current life.
He has not made a decision and would need to meet the requirements before a naturalisation process could lead to a chance with Indonesia.
Persija Jakarta midfielder Fabio Calonego says he is considering the possibility of becoming an Indonesian citizen and playing for the national team.
The Brazilian player says he would need to play in Indonesia for four more years without playing in another country to meet the residency requirement he described.
He says playing for Indonesia is not his main priority, though he is open to the possibility.
Calonego says his family’s well-being and feeling settled in Indonesia are his main concerns.
He says he has never represented a national team and believes a place in Brazil’s squad remains out of reach.
- Who
- Fabio Calonego, a Brazilian midfielder for Persija Jakarta.
- What
- He is considering Indonesian naturalisation and a possible future place in the national team.
- When
- He says he would need four more years playing in Indonesia before meeting the residency requirement he described.
- Where
- Indonesia.
- Why
- He says people have suggested he seek Indonesian citizenship, and he is comfortable living and playing in Indonesia. His family’s well-being is his priority.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Calonego joined Persija Jakarta.
Reports said Calonego was considering Indonesian naturalisation and described the four more years of play in Indonesia he said he would need to meet the residency requirement.
- Club
- Persija Jakarta
- Nationality
- Brazilian
- Residency period
- Four more years playing in Indonesia, without playing in another country
- National-team priority
- Calonego said Indonesia’s national team is not his main priority
- Family
- Calonego said his family’s well-being is his current priority
What people are saying
Depending on the situation, on the football side of things, people here have even suggested giving me citizenship.
They really like me here, so I have to play four more years in this league without playing in another country.
It’s not my main priority, but I take life year by year. If it’s possible, why not? At that point I’ll be 32.
Right now my priority is making sure my family is doing well.










