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Nam Dinh FC revealed that they had rejected a lucrative transfer offer from a Saudi Arabian club for striker Nguyen Xuan Son to complete his naturalization process in Vietnam.
The offer was made after the 2023-2024 season when Son, still known as Rafaelson, had just become the V. League's top scorer with a record 31 goals.
"A club in Saudi Arabia offered us more than US$3 million to buy Rafaelson, but president Nguyen Van Thien said no," said Nam Dinh FC CEO Nguyen Quoc Phong. "He wants to keep the player to continue contributing to the club and complete the process of naturalization as a Vietnamese citizen."
Thien personally met with Rafaelson to highlight the long-term benefits of becoming a Vietnamese citizen, including performance-based bonuses. After that, the Brazilian-born striker stayed at the club.
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Nguyen Xuan Son celebrates a goal in Nam Dinh FC's 2-3 loss to Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League Two on Dec. 4, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa |
In September 2024, Rafaelson became a Vietnamese citizen, adopting the name Nguyen Xuan Son. Just three months later, he debuted for the national team, scoring twice and assisting two goals in a 5-0 victory over Myanmar in the ASEAN Cup. At that time, he met the requirement of living for five consecutive years in Vietnam.
Son's impact was immediate and immaculate. He netted three goals against Singapore in the semifinals, ending 2024 with 40 goals, ranking among the top 10 scorers globally, alongside stars like Jonathan David and Ayoub El Kaabi, and surpassing Kylian Mbappe's 39 goals.
On Jan. 2, 2025, he scored both goals in Vietnam’s historic 2-1 win against Thailand in the ASEAN Cup final’s first leg, their first official victory over this opponent since 2008. Unfortunately, in the second leg on Jan. 5, Son suffered a fractured right leg, sidelining him for at least eight months.
Despite the injury, his stellar performance earned him both the best player and top scorer awards at the ASEAN Cup, making him only the third player in tournament history to win this double, following Noh Alam Shah (2007) and Chanathip Songkrasin (2020).
After the tournament, Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik praised Son, stating he has the potential to play in both the K-League and Europe.
Nam Dinh FC also revealed that two K-League clubs expressed interest in signing Son through coach Kim.
However, Son has no plans to leave Vietnam. His priority is to recover fully from injury and return to form.
The 27-year-old striker added that he remains loyal to Nam Dinh FC and club president Thien, expressing his desire to stay with the club for the rest of his career.
Son's influence extended beyond the pitch. His ASEAN Cup success earned him the Third Class Labor Medal from the Vietnam Presidemt, along with various bonuses, a car and a luxury apartment in Hanoi from the club’s main sponsor.
