Ho Chi Minh City Police unexpectedly parts ways with Brazilian center-back

Ho Chi Minh City Police FC officially parts ways with Brazilian center-back Matheus Felipe prior to the 2026/27 season.

Ho Chi Minh City Police FC continues to experience notable upheavals in the transfer market by deciding to part ways with Brazilian center-back Matheus Felipe after the 2025/26 season. This move is part of the team's squad rebuilding plan after failing to achieve expected results in the V.League, aiming for a more competitive core for the new season.

Matheus Felipe joined Ho Chi Minh City Police FC in 2025 with high expectations. Possessing a height of 1m86 and impressive physical foundations, the defender born in 1998 was seen as a suitable piece to reinforce the defense. His experience playing in Brazil also led to expectations that he would quickly adapt and become a reliable anchor in the team's tactical system.

However, the reality did not meet expectations. Despite having advantages in physique and one-on-one combat ability, Matheus Felipe still encountered many difficulties in integrating into the Vietnamese football environment as well as the playing style built by the coaching staff. The lack of coordination with teammates prevented the Brazilian center-back from fully utilizing his strengths, while also failing to provide the necessary stability for the defense.

After a squad evaluation process, the leadership of Ho Chi Minh City Police FC decided not to continue with Matheus Felipe. This is seen as a choice to pave the way for more suitable personnel options, especially as the team undergoes a strong overhaul to aim for the 2026/27 season with many major goals.

The departure of the Brazilian foreign player also shows that Ho Chi Minh City Police is making careful calculations in transfer activities. Instead of retaining players who have not met professional requirements, the team is ready to make changes to improve squad quality. The defense is considered one of the positions needing reinforcement as the club aims to improve its performance after a less-than-satisfactory season.

In the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City Police will likely continue to be active in the transfer market to seek new talents. Not only targeting quality foreign players, the team is also expected to add more experienced domestic players to create squad depth. With the changes taking place, fans are anticipating a new look for Ho Chi Minh City Police in the 2026/27 season, where the team is determined to return to the race for titles.