Son Heung-min himself dismissed rumors of a short-term lease in Europe. He is expected to get plenty of rest during the winter.
Son Heung-min moved to Los Angeles (LA) FC last August after 10 years with Tottenham. After joining, he quickly completed all transfer procedures and made his debut in 3 days, and immediately began showing off his skills.
LAFC experienced an upward trend after Son Heung-min joined, and confirmed its advancement to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup playoffs by finishing third in the Western Conference. Then, in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs against Austin FC, with Son Heung-min leading the way, they won a total of two wins in the first and second games and succeeded in advancing to the second round. LAFC is aiming for the top spot in MLS in three years after 2022.
While he was engrossed in life at LAFC, rumors of Son Heung-min’s return to Europe arose. British media ‘The Sun’ reported last month, “It has been reported that a clause is included that allows Son Heung-min to return to Europe during the MLS off-season. The possibility of a return to the Premier League has opened up.”
This is the ‘David Beckham Clause’. European soccer is held in the Spring and Autumn Festival, which starts in the fall and ends in the spring, while MLS, on the other hand, has the Spring and Autumn Festival that starts in the spring and ends in the fall. While MLS is taking a break in the winter, Europe is entering the middle of the season.
In the past, some players who played in MLS have headed to Europe during the winter to maintain their skills during the off-season and return to the national team. David Beckham, who played for LA Galaxy, headed to AC Milan (Italy) during the 2009 and 2010 off-season, and Thierry Henry returned to his former team Arsenal briefly in 2012 after transferring to New York Red Bull.
‘The Sun’ mentioned the possibility of Son Heung-min’s short-term loan to Europe, citing the two players as examples. In addition to Tottenham, local reports continued that Milan, a prestigious Serie A team, was also showing great interest.
However, Son Heung-min himself dismissed rumors of a return to Europe. In an interview with a YouTube channel, Son Heung-min said, “I think many people are curious about the story about returning to Europe. But that’s not true. I think it’s quite uncomfortable for such rumors to come out, and I think it could confuse fans.”
He continued, “I am currently a player for LAFC. My belief is to do my best for my team. All the rumors regarding my loan that have come out so far are not true. I have never said anything about going to any team.”
Son Heung-min added, “Such stories can be disrespectful to the team. I have coaches, colleagues, and fans who believe in me and are with me. I hope that groundless stories do not spread anymore. My goal is the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. I plan to return to Korea during the off-season for next year, rest well, and improve my condition as much as possible. I think rest and recharge are the most important things right now.”
[김영훈 MK스포츠 기자]
