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Controversy over Son Heung-min's transfer among Tottenham fans

Controversy over Son Heung-min's transfer among Tottenham fans

Posted May. 23, 2016 07:37,   

Updated May. 23, 2016 07:45

한국어

A bitter controversy has stirred up over the news that has come out from U.K media that Tottenham is to sell Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur, photo) among the fans of Tottenham.

HITC Sports, an online media in the U.K. reported on Sunday, “Spurs fans have been taking to Twitter over the last 24 hours to discuss the future of winger Son Heung-min, after a report suggested he could leave the club this summer.” HITC reported, “Some believe that, if Spurs can recoup most of that 22 million pound (approx. 38.2 billion Korean won), then Son should be sold to raise funds for other positions, having only shown glimpses of his quality this season.” One of the fans tweeted, “Shame but Son Heung-Min never really seemed to make it, we saw glimpses of what he was capable of, still shifted a few shirts?”

Those who disagree with his transfer argue that Son should be given more time to adapt to the team as he joined the team less than a year ago. They cited Érik Lamela (aged 24, Argentina) who had shown poor performance since his joining of Tottenham in 2013 and belatedly displayed his capability. After the joining the team, Lamela scored nothing in nine games in the first season but five goals in 34 games during 2015~2016 season. “I think Son is like a Lamela. Man needs a little bit of time. But then he'll have an excellent season like Lamela this year,” said one of Tottenham fans.

Son made four goals in 28 league games during the 2015-2016 season. He was expected to play as a principle player but lost in the competition for selecting key players as he was not able to play for more than a month due to injury. Back then, he played more as a substitute (15 games) than as a starting winger. Having shown improving performance with two goals during the end of season in May, Son displayed disappointing performance again at the final game against Newcastle and was shamefully replaced after the first half.

The rumor over his transfer has come out after Tottenham’s disgraceful 5-1 defeat Newcastle. “Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to sell Son Heung-Min after the game whose performance left some of his team-mates enraged,” U.K.’s daily newspaper Telegraph reported. “Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is said to have been humiliated by the team’s capitulation, but has vowed to back Pochettino over any players he now wishes to sell and bring in.”



정윤철기자 trigger@donga.com