Brazilian striker Rafaelson Fernandes has completed the process for Vietnamese citizenship and will play for Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC under the Vietnamese name Nguyen Xuan Son in the upcoming round of the 2024-25 Vietnamese top-tier V.League 1, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday.

Once Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC submits the official dispatch from the relevant authority to the Vietnam Football Federation, Rafaelson can play under the Vietnamese name in the match against Quang Nam FC at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh Province, northern Vietnam at 6:00 pm on Monday.

After receiving Vietnamese citizenship, Rafaelson expressed his happiness.

“My dream of becoming a Vietnamese citizen has come true,” Thep Xanh Nam Dinh quoted Rafaelson as saying. 

“I love this country and will do my best on the football field.”

Born in 1997 in Pirapemas, a municipality in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, Rafaelson moved to Vietnam in 2020 to play for Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

He later played for Da Nang FC in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, and Binh Dinh FC in the south-central province of Binh Dinh before returning to Nam Dinh for the 2023-24 season.

During this season of V.League 1, Rafaelson was instrumental in helping Thep Xanh Nam Dinh win the V.League 1 championship, earning accolades as Best Player, Top Scorer with 31 goals in 24 matches, and Best Goal.

Over the past year, he has consistently expressed his desire to become a Vietnamese citizen and contribute to the national team.

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