Former Brazilian international Denilson, who moved from Brazil’s Sao Paulo to Spanish side Real Betis in 1998 for a word record of US$32 million, started his first cap in Vietnam club Hai Phong Tuesday to play in the second half of the V-League.
Brazilian 2002 World Cup winner Denilson de Oliveira Araujo will play for the club in the 13 matches of the professional league, the club announced at a conference, held in the northern city of Hai Phong June 2 to introduce the star.
The club said he has signed a contract and will wear number 99 to play in the front. Club chairman Le Van Thanh presented his shirt to him during the conference, and they moved to Lach Tray Stadium for a training session.
The Brazilian winger and striker, who played in the 1998 World Cup final, which Brazil lost 0-3 to France, will make his Vietnam debut on June 6 in the Hai Phong vs. Danang game. Danang are the first-half champions with 27 points after 13 matches while Hai Phong, with 19 points, are currently seventh of the 14 V-League teams.
The most expensive footballer of the world in 1998 has created a fever in Hai Phong City in the past few days. He arrived on Sunday and more than 2,000 fans gathered at Lach Tray Stadium the next morning to see him, who came to the stadium for his first training session. The northern club has given its fans a big treat by signing Denilson, who had 61 caps for Brazil with nine goals scored.
The 32-year-old player said he would stay in Vietnam for a long time. He added a friend of his had introduced him to the club’s management and he accepted their offer to come to play in the Asian country. Denilson also said when the V-League finishes in late August, he would consider staying with Hai Phong or not.
“If anything goes smoothly, I want to stay to continue to play for the club.”
Earlier this year he was on trial with English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers, after being without a club since his release from Brazilian club Palmeiras. His European club career never really flourished despite spending seven seasons in Spain, followed by a spell at French side Bordeaux, Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nasr and American team FC Dallas.
Vietnam Television, in its prime time 7 pm broadcasting on June 1, said the fact that the former Brazilian international joined Hai Phong was a hotter news story than the fact the national team beat Kuwait 1-0 in a friendly early June 1 (Vietnam time) in the West Asian country.
Many Vietnamese fans believe that Denilson is the most famous to play in Vietnam since Thai striker Kiatisak “Zico” Senamueng joined Hoang Anh Gia Lai in 2002. Kiatisak, who was considered a Zico (a very famous Brazilian striker) in Southeast Asia, won the V-League trophy in 2003 and 04 in a row, and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, with two other Thai players, was called a dream team at that time.
In related news, Hoang Anh Gia Lai on Monday signed Senegal striker Mouhamed Moustapha, the top scorer in the 2007-08 Malaysian League. He scored 27 goals for Kalantan.
The 25 year old had to move to Thai club Muong Thong United after that season as the 2008-09 Malaysian League, as ruled, is limited only to local players. Now he shifted to Vietnam.
