Son Heung-min was unveiled by the Los Angeles FC as their club’s new center-piece in a press conference on Wednesday, and started his stint in USA by dropping a truth bomb, telling the fans of the MLS soccer team: “If I’m honest, it was not my first choice,” Son said.
Son’s introductory news conference was attended by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, South Korea’s consul general, dozens of Korean journalists and dozens of drum-beating, singing fans from the LAFC supporters’ group.
The South Korean footballer was Tottenham Hotspur’s captain last season in the Premier League, but made the shocking announcement that he was leaving the club with one year left on his contract. LAFC is said to have paid a transfer fee over $20 million, which is likely to be an MLS record, for the league’s biggest signing since Lionel Messi.
While there were plenty of suitors for him, the footballer opted to come to LA FC, despite former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris, who is now LAFC’s starting goalkeeper, giving him a warning.
“Hugo only said the traffic is bad,” Son told the packed news conference at BMO Stadium. “But I know London, the traffic is also quite bad. The traffic I can deal with, no problem. I just have to leave 10 minutes earlier. I’m experienced, you know?”
Son said that he opted to come to the Los Angeles franchise, which turned eight years old recently, because of conversations with LAFC general manager John Thorrington.
“If I’m honest, it was not my first choice,” Son said. “But (from the) first call when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be. Right now, I’m here. I’m more than happy.”
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“I just felt like I need a new chapter, I need a new challenge, and I choose LAFC,” he said. “I think we can say I’m old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, and still have a good quality. I’m here to perform, but also I want to give some advice to the young players for improvement. That’s why we are here.
“I’m here to make this league even bigger, and I will do anything to make this club in a better position,” Son said.
(With inputs from AP)
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