The storm is not over for Minh Duc.

(Baonghean) - After six years away, Minh Duc returned to his "old home" with many aspirations. However, at SLNA right now, the level of competition is very high, and it's not easy for this veteran central defender to find joy. In the last two matches, Minh Duc was in the starting lineup but couldn't perform well, and his team lost. His desire to fight for his hometown team remains, but age and the pressure from the competition for a position are making it difficult for Minh Duc to show his true value.

Returning to "bury your face in the river of your homeland"

Living near Vinh Stadium, Minh Duc's childhood memories are filled with afternoons spent huddled in the stands amidst thousands of spectators, watching SLNA play. He dreamed of becoming a great player, a dream that was kindled from a young age, as he had many opportunities to play and showcase his talent. With so many memories, Vinh Stadium has become incredibly familiar to him, and deep down, Duc has no desire to go anywhere else.

But a footballer's career is short, and Duc also had to think about himself and his family, which is why he had to leave. Back then, SLNA was very regretful, and Minh Duc couldn't help but feel guilty leaving the land that had given birth to him and trained him to become a famous player. But life is like that; after a major overhaul, the Nghe An team seemed powerless in retaining talent, and after waiting and waiting without seeing any positive developments, Duc finally decided to leave.

Minh Duc went to The Cong, then Hai Phong, and married a woman from Hai Phong, but he still longed for the day he could return home. SLNA's General Director, Nguyen Hong Thanh, said that Minh Duc is the type of player any coach would like, so even after leaving XM.Hai Phong for XMXT.Saigon, contacting him to bring him back to Nghe An province was still very difficult. But when two people "love each other," being together is just a matter of time.

Immediately after the 2013 season ended, knowing he only had a few months left on his contract with V. Hai Phong, Duc made his intentions known, and SLNA seized the opportunity to sign him. Everything went smoothly, as money was not an issue in this contract. Meanwhile, knowing Minh Duc's desire to return to SLNA, the Hai Phong team, despite valuing him highly, did not try to keep him, allowing the central defender to fulfill his wish for the remainder of his career.

700 million VND for a two-year contract is a great deal for SLNA, but for Minh Duc, that's not the most important thing. The most joyful thing is that after six years full of ups and downs, he gets to return to his family and his beloved team. "Playing at Vinh Stadium always brings a very special feeling. Not just because of the packed stands, but also because, wearing the jersey of my hometown team, there's always a motivation that's hard to put into words…," Minh Duc shared.

The storm is not yet over.

Minh Duc is praised for his character, and bringing this central defender back to Nghe An is also a goal SLNA has in mind. Besides strengthening the defense, the Nghe An team also wants to think long-term, building him into an icon after Huy Hoang's departure.

Minh Duc has also decided that after two years playing for his hometown team, he will retire. He will return to Vinh to be with his family and relatives, a place that holds many emotional values ​​for him. His biggest concern right now is his wife, who currently lives in Hai Phong. Although he says they are temporarily living separately, according to information from relatives and family, Minh Duc's return to SLNA is to pave the way for his family to move from Hai Phong to Vinh.

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Minh Duc is impeccable in character, and his willingness to make sacrifices to return to Nghe An is highly commendable. In the context of corruption infiltrating and corrupting many young players in Nghe An, SLNA desperately needs a person of "talent and virtue" like Minh Duc to set an example. With his experience playing for the national team and top V.League clubs, the Nghe An team hopes that Minh Duc will be a solid foundation in the defense, helping young talents like Manh Hung and Ngoc Hai to reach their full potential. Upon retirement, Minh Duc is also well-suited for youth development, and SLNA's intention to build this central defender into a new legend for the Nghe An team is not without reason.

However, all of that is just initial speculation, embellishing the highly anticipated reunion between SLNA and one of its most outstanding players - Minh Duc. In reality, for things to be truly brilliant and go according to plan, the most essential thing is for Minh Duc to prove himself. Even so, the past four matches have shown that things are not simple for the former captain of the Vietnamese national team. Duc didn't get a starting position in the first two games. From the third round onwards, thanks to Manh Hung's injury, Minh Duc was given a chance. However, his coordination with Ngoc Hai was poor, and in both consecutive matches, Minh Duc made mistakes, resulting in SLNA's defeats.

After many years away from home, Minh Duc wants to return and find happiness with his hometown team. However, football is a tough game, and Minh Duc is struggling to find his rhythm and perform at his best. Returning to his "old home," the storms of his career seem far from over.

Vinh Liem