"It's disappointing that my former team lost, but Son Heung-min should have lifted the trophy."

Legendary Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney praised Tottenham Hotspur's 'captain' Son Heung-min during an appearance on the BBC Sports podcast on the 29th (Korean time).

Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1-0 on the 22nd of last month to reach the top of the UEFA Europa League. This marks the end of a 17-year trophy drought since their League Cup victory.

As a result, Tottenham has also secured a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League. Despite plummeting to 17th place in the Premier League and experiencing their worst season, they turned everything around with one strike in the UEFA Europa League. Son Heung-min, who lifted his first-ever trophy, shed tears of joy.

Son Heung-min recorded 7 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League this season. While the statistics appear decent, former Tottenham player and commentator Jamie O'Hara has criticized Son throughout the season, stating, "The records alone are insufficient. Leadership has faltered, and his influence has diminished." O'Hara even remarked at the beginning of the season, "The Son Heung-min we knew is over."

Now comparisons have been made. O'Hara said, "Just as Ryan Giggs did in the past, Son Heung-min must change his playing style. But whether that is possible is questionable." Giggs successfully transitioned from a winger to a midfielder during his later career, raising doubts about the same transition's feasibility for Son Heung-min.

Indeed, Tottenham is undergoing a tumultuous period. After lifting the Europa League trophy in the 2024-2025 season, coach Ange Postecoglou was dismissed. The British 'Telegraph' reported, "Tottenham faces a players' revolt. Just 16 days after winning the Europa League, the Australian-born coach Postecoglou was brutally fired, leading to an explosion of anger among Tottenham players."

The media stated, "Postecoglou's dismissal provoked anger among many Tottenham players. Some players want to leave the team. According to sources, the next head coach will face significant difficulties in mending the fractured locker room." It added, "Son Heung-min has given the impression to some teammates and coaching staff that he might leave Tottenham this summer, as Saudi Arabia has shown interest in him."

In fact, Son Heung-min's contract with Tottenham will expire at the end of the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Tottenham has only activated a one-year extension option instead of offering him a new contract. This has led to ongoing transfer rumors. He has indicated a desire to leave Tottenham as a legend after lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy last month, leading to speculation about a new challenge.

Originally, there were reports that Tottenham would push for Son Heung-min's sale after their Korean tour. In reality, Tottenham has generated significant revenue from marketing Son Heung-min in Korea over the past few years. During the 2022 and 2023 visits, they sold out all tickets and enjoyed advertising revenue and broadcasting rights fees, fully benefiting from the 'Son Heung-min effect.' The dual shots of Kane and Son, as well as the matchup with Kim Min-jae, were box office hits.

However, this time is different. The transfer rumors surrounding Son Heung-min continue to swirl. A number of clubs in Saudi Arabia wish to acquire him, and Tottenham has slapped a price tag of £100 million (approximately 185.1 billion won). The issue is the timing of the transfer. If Son Heung-min departs for Saudi Arabia before August 3, countless fans who purchased tickets to see him will be left feeling like they suffered a loss.

Some media have claimed that Tottenham intends to sell Son Heung-min quickly, even if it means paying a buyout clause. Everyone knows that the biggest driving force behind Son Heung-min's three visits to Korea in the past four years has been his presence. The bigger issue is that, despite knowing this situation, Tottenham is again tapping into the wallets of Korean fans by promoting Son Heung-min.

Most notably, newly appointed coach Thomas Frank has not even mentioned Son Heung-min's name during interviews, creating a solid atmosphere. Captain Son Heung-min's presence in the new uniform introduction video is almost non-existent. He appears for just over one second in a video lasting more than 70 seconds. This serves as a signal that Son Heung-min is no longer the 'face' of the team.

Nonetheless, a sentiment of 'let's sell while we can' has clearly spread within and outside the club. The results of a local opinion poll are quite shocking and symbolic. 57% of respondents supported Son Heung-min's transfer, while 22% expressed conditional support. The absolute support for him remaining was only 21%.

The situation within Tottenham is no different. New coach Thomas Frank reportedly excluded Son Heung-min from his plans for next season, and his name was indeed absent from the list of key players. This indicates that Son Heung-min remains only as a commercial image, not as the tactical backbone of the team.

Meanwhile, the situation outside cannot deny that Son Heung-min is a legend representing Tottenham. Manchester United legend Rooney displayed complicated emotions watching Son Heung-min lift the trophy on the European stage after defeating his former team, Manchester United. He said, "It felt like my heart was being torn apart," but immediately followed up with, "That moment deserves respect," praising Son Heung-min for being worthy of that glory.

He continued, "Son Heung-min has delivered incredible performances at Tottenham for years. Seeing him lift the UEL trophy against Manchester United as captain was truly heartbreaking. However, that moment deserves respect. He has every right to enjoy that moment."

Rooney's recent remarks are seen as a reminder of the immense stature and influence Son Heung-min holds within Tottenham, despite the turbulence surrounding the club, new coach, and local fans.

[OSEN]