'National team midfielder' Hong Hyun-seok (26, Mainz) has reached an important crossroads in his career. He is receiving love calls from French club FC Nantes.
'Sky Sports Germany' reported exclusively on the 4th (Korea time), "The Ligue 1 club wants to sign Hong Hyun-seok from Mainz. Could his time at Mainz come to an end after just one year?"
Hong Hyun-seok left Belgium's KAA Gent last summer to don the Mainz uniform in the German Bundesliga. The transfer fee is reported to be around 4 million euros (approximately 6.4 billion won). At the time, Mainz hoped that versatile Hong Hyun-seok could create a synergy with another Korean national team midfielder, Lee Jae-sung.
However, Hong Hyun-seok's debut season did not go as expected. While he received some starting opportunities early in the season, he quickly fell behind in the competition for a regular spot. Moreover, as Mainz surged up to 3rd place in the league with Hong Hyun-seok sitting on the bench, it became difficult to make changes.
In the end, Hong Hyun-seok made only 23 appearances and played 519 minutes in his first Bundesliga season, with just one assist as his only offensive point. He started in only 4 matches. It was literally a brutal adaptation period.
As Hong Hyun-seok's opportunities diminished, love calls began to pour in from France. The protagonist of this story is none other than Nantes, which finished 13th in Ligue 1 last season. Sky Sports reported, "Nantes is currently showing concrete interest in signing attacking midfielder Hong Hyun-seok."
Not only Nantes, but teams from the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, which are well aware of Hong Hyun-seok's abilities, are also keeping an eye on him. The media explained, "Nantes has already made an official offer to 26-year-old Hong Hyun-seok. Additionally, several prestigious clubs in the Belgian league are also showing interest in him."
However, it remains uncertain whether Mainz will let Hong Hyun-seok go. Mainz requires a deep squad as they compete not only in the Bundesliga next season but also in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL). Hong Hyun-seok could still be utilized as a rotation player.
Sky Sports also noted, "Last season, Hong Hyun-seok was used only as a substitute. However, with Mainz qualifying for the UECL, his chances of playing will significantly increase. Furthermore, Mainz wants to start the season with a squad that has slightly more players than last season."
Moreover, Mainz still holds high expectations for Hong Hyun-seok's potential. The media emphasized, "It is still uncertain whether Mainz will allow Hong Hyun-seok's transfer. They still have confidence in his qualities."
In fact, Bo Henriksen, the Mainz coach, has praised Hong Hyun-seok as "a technically gifted player with advantages in half-spaces." However, he stated, "To survive in the Bundesliga, he must be tougher and fight actively. He must not avoid physical battles."
Coach Henriksen also mentioned that Hong Hyun-seok should learn from Japanese midfielder Sano Kaishu. He said, "Sano was a nice player at first. But now he is different. I don't want a kind player. You can't be nice on the soccer field."
Ultimately, the choice will be crucial for Hong Hyun-seok. Currently, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America approaching, securing playing time is urgent. To play immediately, a transfer may be worth considering.
In fact, Hong Hyun-seok has not received a call from South Korea national team coach Hong Myung-bo since the end of November last year and did not play even one match in November. He must choose whether to push for moves to France or Belgium for more playing time or to stay in Germany and develop further as requested by coach Henriksen.
Hong Hyun-seok's future could also be an important variable for the South Korean national team. Capable of fulfilling multiple positions in midfield, he is one of the expected players in Korean soccer. With sharp left-footed passes, vigorous activity, defensive involvement ability, and smart soccer intelligence, he can be tactically valuable. If he maintains his physical condition and survives in the Bundesliga, it will be a significant boost for Hong Myung-bo's squad.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Mainz social media.
[OSEN] Reporter