It is a look of amnesia. The person who was pouring out criticism about Son Heung-min (Tottenham) suddenly changed.
Harry Redknapp, who served as Tottenham's manager, said last month, "I know Son Heung-min is a good player, but I didn’t see him as a captain. If I were the manager, I wouldn’t choose him as the captain," consistently criticizing him. Redknapp was busy diminishing Son Heung-min to the point that it should be assessed as criticism rather than mere evaluation.
However, he suddenly changed.
On the 28th (Korean time), Redknapp expressed a new opinion about Son Heung-min through TalkSport.
Redknapp explained, "I still think there are things Son Heung-min can do (at Tottenham). He was a fantastic player for Tottenham. It is not easy to replace Son Heung-min. Tottenham has loaned Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, but he still needs time. He doesn’t seem to be the exact solution. Replacing the top player is not an easy task."
Mentioning the 19-year-old Tel seems to reflect disappointment over not performing up to expectations. Tel wore the Tottenham jersey on loan during the January transfer market.
He raised expectations by scoring in the FA Cup round of 32 against Aston Villa, but he has been quiet in four league matches and one UEFA Europa League match. Public opinion that Tel would soon surpass Son Heung-min has also quieted down.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min has been quietly fulfilling his role. In particular, in the second leg of the round of 16 against AZ Alkmaar, he was involved in all goals, leading to a 3-1 victory and contributing to a cumulative 3-2 advancement to the quarterfinals. In the league, he showcased a change in momentum right at the start of the second half against Fulham in round 29 when the game was not going well. His display of skills made Redknapp's change of words awkward.
This season, he has shown the most explosive offense within Tottenham with 11 goals and 11 assists in 40 official matches.
Give Me Sports reported on the 24th, "Tottenham is planning a blockbuster sale of Son Heung-min. The groundwork for the transfer has already been completed. Tottenham is considering parting ways with Son Heung-min ahead of the summer transfer market."
The 33-year-old Son Heung-min is considered to have reached the end of his prime and is being planned for a transfer while he still has value. This outlet criticized, "Tottenham can receive financial support by selling Son Heung-min. He has been far from top-level performance this season and shows little sign of improvement."
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, Son Heung-min has devoted himself as a one-club man. He has won numerous honors, including the Premier League Golden Boot, but he is far from winning a title. He turned down offers from big clubs to stay at Tottenham.
However, what remains is a perception of neglect. This season, Tottenham has fallen to 14th place in the Premier League. They were eliminated early from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. While there is a slim chance of winning the Europa League, it remains very unlikely.
A British legend spoke up against the rumors of Son Heung-min's departure. Harry Redknapp, a former Tottenham manager, countered, "Son Heung-min still has a lot to offer Tottenham. He is a fantastic player at Tottenham. It is not easy to replace him."
Redknapp continued, "Although Tottenham has brought Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, he has been quiet. Replacing the best player is never easy. Manager Ange Postecoglou has not been able to utilize Son Heung-min properly," placing blame on the manager.
Moreover, negative evaluations of Son Heung-min continued from TalkSport.
TalkSport reported on the 28th about the rumors of Son Heung-min's transfer.
TalkSport stated, "Son Heung-min is having a tough time this season. There is a possibility he may transfer this summer. With Tottenham not qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, there could be significant player departures from the club. In this chaotic situation, the future of captain Son Heung-min is also uncertain."
The main reason is that Son Heung-min's form has declined. It was also noted, "The captain of the South Korean national team has been left off the list by Manager Postecoglou. He is far from the reputation he previously enjoyed. Son Heung-min has faced massive criticism from experts and fans after his contract was extended until 2026 due to a significant drop in his performance."
Gabriel Agbonlahor, who played as a forward for Aston Villa, remarked, "Son Heung-min seems to have dropped significantly in speed compared to his prime. He was an outstanding player. But now he cannot show the speed he had during his prime. Will it be time for him to leave Tottenham when he turns 33 in July?" as he speculated about Son Heung-min's transfer.
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, Son Heung-min has devoted himself as a one-club man. He has won numerous honors, including the Premier League Golden Boot, but he is far from winning a title. He turned down offers from big clubs to stay at Tottenham.
However, what remains is a perception of neglect. This season, Tottenham has fallen to 14th place in the Premier League. They were eliminated early from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. While there is a slim chance of winning the Europa League, it remains very unlikely.
Not everyone agrees with the transfer of Son Heung-min. Harry Redknapp, a former Tottenham manager, countered, "Son Heung-min still has a lot to offer Tottenham. He is a fantastic player at Tottenham. It is not easy to replace him."
This implies that a world-class player, despite temporarily declining in form, should not be lightly re-evaluated as merely a means of making money.
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