How much is Cong Phuong worth?
In recent days, the news that Cong Phuong has ended his contract with Yokohama FC to return to Vietnam to play has been attracting fans' attention. So, what is a reasonable price to have Cong Phuong in the squad?
29 years old is the peak of a player's career so the nameCong Phuongis definitely still a hot name on the transfer market. However, the price to get this striker from Do Luong is not cheap (about 8 billion VND/season), so not many teams in Vietnam can afford this price. Especially when Cong Phuong cannot participate in the first stage of the V.League 2024/2025 season.
This means that the 29-year-old striker can only participate in the First Division - where reputation and professional level are still quite far behind the V.League. This is an advantage for Cong Phuong because the First Division will be a good environment for this striker from Nghe An to regain his competitive feeling and form. Especially when Cong Phuong only had 3 matches and 85 minutes of playing time after 2 years in the land of the rising sun.
However, from a certain perspective, this billion-dollar deal is a gamble for clubs wanting to sign Cong Phuong. Granted, the first benefit is that the attraction of this striker from Do Luong is still very large. The presence of Cong Phuong will help attract more spectators to the stadium.
However, if Cong Phuong does not perform well in the first few matches, this attraction could completely disappear. This is entirely possible when the question of Cong Phuong's motivation to compete is still being raised. If he still has the desire to compete, why didn't CP10 return home to compete earlier after a season of only having 1 minute on the field?
People often say "form is temporary, class is forever", but the last time Vietnamese fans witnessed Cong Phuong's class was in a friendly match with the Palestine team on November 9, 2023 with 45 minutes on the field and 1 assist.
Meanwhile, the last goal that the former Hoang Anh Gia Lai striker scored was more than 2 years ago. That was a goal against Ho Chi Minh City Club in Hoang Anh Gia Lai's 1-2 loss. It can be said that the numbers are against Cong Phuong and predict that this return to Vietnam will be extremely difficult for this player born in 1995.
Of course, the 2 years in Japan were not in vain for Cong Phuong. The professional style and attitude in training and competing in the land of the rising sun are the basis for the striker from Do Luong to maintain his form and feeling. Therefore, if he has the best environment, Cong Phuong can still promote his strengths.
If we don't talk about the price, Cong Phuong will still be a quality domestic player that any team would want to have. And his performances on the field will answer the question: How much is Cong Phuong worth?
Hopefully, Vietnamese fans will soon see again a Cong Phuong who once captivated many fans with his skillful and skillful ball handling.