SLNA: Recruiting Truong Dinh Luat, why not?

A few days ago, in front of the press, the player from Quy Hop (Nghe An) said: "The team's leaders promised me and many others to renegotiate the contract. However, after authorizing their subordinates to negotiate, they did not say a word, leaving everything in silence."

Thus, Truong Dinh Luat will not be in the plan of Ho Chi Minh City Club next season. From now until the 2019 season starts, the goal of the central defender born in 1983 is to quickly find a new destination. With his proven class, the former defender of the Vietnam national team will have many teams welcoming him with open arms.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Truong Dinh Luat is one of the best central defenders in Vietnamese football at the moment. His experience in the field, along with his strong, fierce but equally intelligent playing style, has helped the player born in 1983 become a reliable stopper in the defense of his home teams. Not only that, Truong Dinh Luat has also shown his leadership qualities. Being the captain of Military Zone 4, Navibank Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City Club is a typical example.

Truong Dinh Luat is a mainstay of the Vietnam Team at the AFF Cup 2016. Photo: Archive.

Although he is about to turn 35, the age when most players retire from their playing careers, Truong Dinh Luat still maintains stability, especially in his physical strength.

In V.League 2018, Truong Dinh Luat played a total of 1485 minutes for Ho Chi Minh City Club. That was because this player suffered an injury and was suspended by the VFF Disciplinary Board at the beginning of the season (due to a foul on SLNA's Olaha in the 1/8 round of the 2018 National Cup).

Observing the matches of Ho Chi Minh City Club in the last season, it seems that there is no sign of age in each step, each ball fight of Truong Dinh Luat. Perhaps, the central defender from Quy Hop (Nghe An) will continue to play at the top level for a few more years. Successfully recruiting Truong Dinh Luat not only owns a quality central defender, but also does not cost too much money for a signing bonus.

Meanwhile, the Nghe An team is facing the situation of losing both the central defender duo Que Ngoc Hai - Pham Manh Hung (contract expired). To deal with the "central defender position crisis", SLNA's leadership is considering 3 options: promoting young players (as usual), signing a contract with a foreign central defender (like Nguyen Hoang Helio), or recruiting a central defender from Nghe An from another team (like Nguyen Minh Duc).

It is almost certain that Que Ngoc Hai will no longer be a member of SLNA in the 2019 season. Photo: Archive.

Each method has its pros and cons. For example, promoting young players cannot be used immediately because of their lack of experience. Buying foreign players is like gambling because their skills cannot be verified, and the signing fee and salary are high. It seems that the most feasible option is to recruit a central defender from Nghe An from another team. And Truong Dinh Luat is a strong candidate.

By recruiting Truong Dinh Luat, SLNA will immediately have someone to play alongside Hoang Van Khanh in the central defender position. Surely, the Nghe An team's defense will be less "fragile" with the appearance of the 35-year-old central defender.

Besides, the presence of Truong Dinh Luat will help young SLNA players learn a lot of experience, to mature quickly. Like the case of Nguyen Minh Duc a few years ago.

As long as the Nghe An team seriously considers the matter, the chance of winning Truong Dinh Luat's signature is extremely high. Playing close to home has always been a burning desire of the player from Quy Hop (Nghe An). It seems that if this deal becomes a reality, both SLNA and Truong Dinh Luat will benefit./.