"I am ready for the coming AFC Champions League qualifiers," said Brazil centre-back Gil here on Wednesday, who joined Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shandong Luneng on a four-year contract recently.
Gil arrived in Jinan on Jan. 26, the capital city of east China's Shandong Province, in which Luneng club is based.
"In terms of my physical conditions, I kept training with Corinthians before I came here," Gil said with a firm belief of his readiness for the coming matches.
The 28-year-old joined Jadson (Tianjin Songjiang), Luis Fabiano (Tiajin Songjiang), Renato August (Beijing Guoan) as those Brazilian players had been lured to Chinese clubs in recent weeks.
Shandong Luneng FC will play the winner between Mohun Bagan Athletic Club from India and Tampines Rovers FC from Singapore in round-2 qualifier on Feb. 2, at Jinan Olympic Sports Centre.
"I once played with Montillo in Cruzeiro, so I have a brief knowledge of Luneng," Gil said, adding he will learn from other players and help the club go further in the coming season.
Menezes coached Gil in Corinthians in 2014. Gil once played for Cruzeiro and Corinthians, so he knew Luneng's current coach and foreign players.
Gil has been capped five times for Brazil since making his international debut in 2014.
If Shandong Luneng FC qualifies for the third round, they will have to play in Australia, where they will challenge Adelaide United for a place in the final stage of the AFC Champions League.
