At the age of 29, Possebon failed to meet the expectations of head coach Toshiya Miura as well as those on the club’s board during his probationary period ahead of the upcoming V-League 1, the country’s top-tier football league.

Therefore, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City F.C. severed ties with Possebon to look for another foreign player who could help realize their vision of becoming new heavyweights at the V-League 1.

The Brazilian midfielder was recruited to the Vietnamese club’s squad in January, though no details about the terms, transaction fee and wage in the contract between Possebon and Ho Chi Minh City F.C. were disclosed.

Possebon, who turned 29 on February 13, was recruited by Manchester United in 2008, but eventually made only three appearances with the English Premier League side in the 2008-09 season.

The midfielder had his debut with the Red Devils after substituting legendary player Ryan Giggs from the bench in a clash with Newcastle on August 17, 2008.

Possebon won his first FA Cup cap on February 13, 2009, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo in a Fifth Round fixture with Derby County.

He was part of the Manchester United squad that won the 2008 FA Community Shield and the 2009 League Cup.

Former Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon (L) and Le Cong Ving (R), acting chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Football Club, pose for a photo with Possebon’s jersey after his recruitment in January 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The player then went on loan to Braga of Portugal for the first half of the 2009-10 season and later joined various clubs before agreeing to the Ho Chi Minh City F.C. deal in 2018.

Born to an Italian father, Possebon was called up to Italy U20s, playing one match for them in 2009.

Ho Chi Minh City had been public about their determination to emerge as a new force to be reckoned with at the V-League 1 by appointing former Vietnamese star striker Le Cong Vinh as their acting chairman in early 2017.

The club also spent fortunes buying good players, renovating the restrooms and locker room at their home stadium, and setting up a ‘trophy room’ to honor Ho Chi Minh City football history.

On top of these, Ho Chi Minh City F.C. earlier this year also signed a two-year contract with Japanese coach Toshiya Miura, who led the Vietnamese national and U23 squads from 2014 to early 2016.

Ho Chi Minh City F.C. only returned to the top-flight V-League 1 in the 2017 season and could barely make it to the 12^th out of 14 places.

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