Vietnam star midfielder passes medical, joins French club

By Lam Thoa   June 29, 2022 | 05:57 pm PT
Vietnam star midfielder passes medical, joins French club
Nguyen Quang Hai (L) with coach Didier Tholot after becoming a player of Pau FC on June 29, 2022. Photo by Pau FC
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai has formally joined French club Pau FC after passing his medical on Wednesday.

According to his agent, Nguyen Dac Van, it was done at the club's headquarter in Pyrénées-Atlantiques Province about 800 km from Paris.

The 25-year-old star met the basic medical parameters related to muscle, heart rate, leg strength, speed, and endurance.

Hai's two-year contract, with the option of extension for another year, came into effect then, making him the first Vietnamese player to play for a professional club in France.

He wrote on social media: "The first important part has been completed. I have officially become a member of Pau FC from this moment. I'm very happy and proud."

Pau FC introduces their new player Nguyen Quang Hai in a video.

Pau are a small club with a stadium with a capacity of over 4,000. They also had the lowest payroll in the second division Ligue 2 at a total of €2.93 million (US$3 million) last season.

But Hai is happy with his choice since he feels appreciated by the club and is likely to get a lot of playing time.

Club vice president Joel Lopez said Pau are confident of developing rookies like Hai, and has promised to let the midfielder go to bigger teams if they receive a reasonable offer.

In six seasons at Hanoi FC, Hai played 126 matches, scored 35 times and won every domestic title and the Vietnam Golden Ball in 2018.

Hanoi offered Hai a new contract, but he remained steadfast about wanting to play abroad.

He also played an important role in Vietnam winning the 2018 AFC U23 Championship's second place, the 2018 AFF Cup title and SEA Games 30 gold medal, and in Vietnam's journey to the final round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

 
 
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