Denilson to make Vietnam debut Saturday

Former Brazilian international Denilson, who has joined a mid-table Vietnamese side, will make his local debut on Saturday, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Denilson, 31, signed Monday with Hai Phong Cement Football Club and is scheduled to play Saturday when his new team takes on top-ranked Danang City at home, Thanh Nein newspaper said.

Attempts to reach club officials for confirmation were unsuccessful.

Thanh Nein quoted Hai Phong coach Vuong Tien Dung as saying Denilson was still adjusting to northern Vietnam’s hot weather. The coach said he might not let Denilson play the full 90 minutes.

The state-controlled Vietnam News said Denilson will take to the field in jersey number 99.

Do Dai Duong, executive director of Hai Phong Cement, said Denilson’s contract does not allow the player’s salary to be disclosed. But Thanh Nein quoted a source who put the figure at about 50,000 dollars a month.

A member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning team, Denilson joins Hai Phong for the second half of the professional V-League season.

African, European and Asian players have become common on Vietnamese football teams but a World Cup winner of Denilson’s stature is a rarity.

“He is the most famous international footballer recruited until now by a Vietnamese football club,” Duong said.

Denilson became the world’s most expensive player when he moved to Spanish side Real Betis from Sao Paulo in 1998.

Hai Phong Cement (Xi Mang Hai Phong) are currently sixth of 14 teams in the V-League.