KUALA LUMPUR – Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) forward Bergson Da Silva is set to don the Harimau Malaya jersey this December, pending the completion of his club’s paperwork for his naturalisation process.
The 34-year-old Brazilian, who has played for the Southern Tigers for nearly five years, is expected to join Peter Cklamovski’s squad as the main centre forward for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifiers.
Bergson, who has netted 130 goals and provided 26 assists in 122 appearances for JDT, recently hinted at his impending Malaysian citizenship by adding the Jalur Gemilang flag to his Instagram bio.
Speaking to Scoop, a JDT official who requested anonymity, revealed that the club has opted for a two-year naturalisation process and plans to submit Bergson’s paperwork to the National Registration Department (JPN) by mid-year.
“The paperwork has been completed, and we are just waiting to submit it to JPN by June or July this year, as by then, Bergson would have completed five years of playing in Malaysia.
“He has always shown a lot of interest to play for Harimau Malaya, as he views our country as a second home after Brazil. Once the naturalisation process is over, he will be a great addition to Cklamovski’s team, as his goal record for JDT speaks for itself.
“However, his naturalisation will be a short-term measure, allowing him to represent Malaysia only until he turns 36. It will ultimately be up to the coach to decide whether he fits into the squad, but the club will ensure he remains available for selection.
“Bergson may need time to adjust to the national team setup if selected, as he has not played international football since representing Brazil’s under-20 squad in 2010.
“However, his chances of struggling with Harimau Malaya are slim, given that he will be surrounded by several JDT teammates, including Arif Aiman Hanapi and Feroz Baharudin,” the official said.
Aside from Bergson, Sri Pahang FC’s Argentina-born Manuel Hidalgo is also among the candidates for naturalisation to represent Harimau Malaya.
Reports suggest that under FIFA’s latest proposed regulations, the residency requirement for naturalisation could soon be reduced from five years to four.
Malaysia has seen several naturalised players don national colours in recent years.
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