Hai to play for Hanoi, not for selling

Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (No 19)

Some team from Thailand, Qatar, Japan and even from Argentina have asked about the player’s availability.

The young midfielder was a key member of the U23 team which reached the final of the AFC U23 Championship held in China in January and he was part of the team knocked out of the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Indonesia earlier this month.

He also helped Hanoi win the league with five games still to play.

Hanoi FC’s chairman, Nguyen Quoc Hoi said he had no intentions of selling the playmaker.

“He is not for sale,” Hoi said. “We want Hai serve the capital in particular and Vietnam football in general.”

Hải himself said he is committed to both his club and the national team, saying he wants to concentrate on improving his performance.

 “I think that I have had shortcomings so I need to focus on training to better myself. I want to devote more to my club and national team,” said Hai.

Hai, 21, made his international debut for the Vietnam senior team, against Jordan last year, in a match that ended in a 0–0 draw.

He was instrumental in leading Vietnam U23 team to their first ever final in the history in any AFC tournaments. During the tournament, he scored five goals, and netted in the final against Uzbekistan.

That strike was voted the goal of the tournament.