‘Captain’ Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) is at the center of rumors regarding a move to Saudi Arabia. Even after winning the UEFA Europa League, controversies surrounding his status have not diminished. Some local media report that Tottenham is ‘seriously considering’ the possibility of selling Son, making it a major issue in the transfer market.
The Sun reported on the 29th (Korea time) that ‘Tottenham is seriously reviewing Son Heung-min’s summer transfer. He still wants to stay with Tottenham, but from Tottenham’s perspective, they can restructure the team into players who can compete in the UEFA Champions League through a massive transfer fee.’
It is no longer unusual for top European stars to head to Saudi Arabia toward the end of their careers. Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Son admired, also transferred to Al Nassr and is said to be earning an annual salary of 270 billion won.
In fact, a variety of opinions regarding Son’s potential move to Saudi Arabia have emerged domestically. Lee Cheon-soo, who played for Al Nassr from 2009 to 2010, expressed his views on the transfer rumors through his YouTube channel ‘Ree Chun-soo.’
Lee Cheon-soo noted, ‘Saudi Arabia is now the hottest league in Asia. If you look at the recent match between Al Hilal and Gwangju, it is almost at the level of the UEFA Champions League,’ mentioning that the league has grown to an unprecedented level compared to his past experiences.
He continued, ‘For a player with Son Heung-min’s brand and performance, salary offers of around 30 billion to 35 billion won may be possible in Saudi Arabia. Even if the contract period is set for two years, the total would reach 60 billion to 70 billion won,’ emphasizing that ‘now is the time for Son to be compensated.’
The sentiment among Korean fans is somewhat different. There is strong public opinion wishing for him to continue playing on the European stage as the national team captain, and there are also negative views that moving to Saudi Arabia is more of a monetary choice than a matter of honor.
In response, Lee Cheon-soo pointed out, ‘We must not forget what stage and performance Son Heung-min has delivered. He has also shown determination despite injuries in international matches. The Saudi Arabian league is not just a ‘money league,’ but now shows high-level performance in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League,' embracing Son Heung-min.
He also realistically pointed out the difficulty of a return to Korea. ‘For instance, even if an offer of 10 billion won is made in Korea, if he fails to meet expectations in performance, people will criticize him again. It is difficult to accommodate Son Heung-min in the reality of Korean professional football,’ he concluded.
On the 22nd, Son Heung-min lifted his first trophy in 10 years since joining Tottenham after defeating Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final. As the first Premier League top scorer in Asia and having scored double digits in the league for eight consecutive seasons, some say he has ‘done enough.’
The contract has been extended until 2026, but the possibility of a transfer remains valid, as Tottenham may consider this summer the ‘optimal time for cashing in.’
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