The 1.95m tall center-back successfully obtains Vietnamese citizenship: Will he join the Vietnamese national team to face Malaysia?

Central defender Gustavo Sant Ana is about to obtain Vietnamese citizenship, bringing him very close to the opportunity to play for the Vietnamese national team in the final match of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Vietnamese national team has a formidable new player.

Last September, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice requesting consideration for Vietnamese citizenship for center-back Gustavo Sant Ana (Da Nang FC), which could pave the way for him to play for the Vietnamese national team.

Previously, Da Nang Club also sent a letter to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) requesting assistance in naturalizing Gustavo.

The text states: "Gustavo has lived in Vietnam for nearly six years and played for several clubs in the V-League. He has shown a deep connection to the football environment, as well as the culture and people of Vietnam. He has always expressed his affection for the country, actively learning Vietnamese to better integrate, and also wishes to live, contribute long-term, and become a part of the Vietnamese football community."

Defender Gustavo is a Vietnamese national.

PHOTO: DA NANG CLUB

Gustavo, born in 1995, is 1.95 meters tall. During his five years playing in the V-League, Gustavo has been a solid defensive shield for clubs like SLNA, Thanh Hoa , Saigon, and now Da Nang. Coach Kim expects Gustavo to be a "lighthouse" helping the Vietnamese national team defend against aerial balls and compete more effectively.

Efforts to naturalize Gustavo have paid off. The Brazilian-born player has been granted Vietnamese citizenship after meeting several conditions, including having played continuously in Vietnam for at least five years, complying with the law, and readily integrating into Vietnamese culture.

Gustavo is expected to receive Vietnamese citizenship tomorrow (December 11). He will take the Vietnamese name Do Phi Long.

For Gustavo to play for the national team, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will submit the necessary documents to the International Football Federation (FIFA) to await permission to play. Besides Gustavo, midfielder Do Hoang Hen is also awaiting FIFA's permission to play.

Hoang Hen successfully obtained Vietnamese citizenship while playing for Hanoi FC after 5 years in the V-League. If granted permission, Hoang Hen and Phi Long (Gustavo) would be the next naturalized players to join the Vietnamese national team, following the case of Nguyen Xuan Son.

'Iron' defense faces Malaysia

While Hoang Hen and Xuan Son promise to upgrade the Vietnamese national team's attack, Gustavo is the missing piece to improve the defense.

Standing nearly 2 meters tall, with a powerful playing style, good situational awareness, and effective coverage, Gustavo will bring stability to the Vietnamese national team's defense, which is currently underperforming.

As many rivals increasingly use naturalization as a shortcut to improve their physique, the Vietnamese national team is also looking to foreign players to increase their height and fighting power. However, unlike Malaysia or Indonesia, Vietnam will naturalize players cautiously and gradually.

In addition to Gustavo, the Vietnamese team is also waiting for good news from overseas Vietnamese central defenders such as Adou Minh (Hanoi Police Club), Kyle Colonna (The Cong Viettel), or goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang (Ho Chi Minh City Police Club).

Adou Minh proved his ability by being included in the V-League Team of the Season last year. The player born in 1997 plays directly, reliably, and has good tackling and interception skills. Kyle Colonna is the "steel wall" that helps The Cong Viettel soar to the top of the table.

As for Patrik Le Giang, his shining performance at the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club from 2023 until now is enough to speak to the ability of the Vietnamese-Slovakian.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-ve-cao-195-m-nhap-tich-thanh-cong-cung-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-dau-malaysia-185251210163217906.htm