Tottenham's friendly against Newcastle: 6 p.m. on 3/8, Hanoi time.
Yesterday, as Tottenham prepared for their friendly match against Newcastle at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Son Heung-min and his teammates were welcomed with a series of media activities and Korean festivities.
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Choi Hong-man lifts Son Heung-min at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea on 2/8. Photo: Tottenham |
Choi Hong-man lifts Son Heung-min at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea on 2/8. Photo: Tottenham
During these media obligations, Son had a special encounter with 2.18 m tall MMA fighter Choi Hong-man.
Choi lifted Son and held him like a child, causing the Tottenham captain to laugh and shyly cover his face with his hand. Reporters and fans at the stadium enthusiastically captured the lighthearted moment.
Choi Hong-man later met, interacted, and took photos with other Tottenham players, including Richarlison, Kevin Danso, Pape Mata Sarr, and Lucas Bergvall. The Korean MMA star even lifted James Maddison several times and received a jersey from the English midfielder.
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Son Heung-min during Tottenham's open training session at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea on 2/8. Photo: Tottenham |
Son Heung-min during Tottenham's open training session at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea on 2/8. Photo: Tottenham
Son is expected to start and captain the friendly against Newcastle today, likely his farewell match for Tottenham. Afterward, the 33-year-old forward will finalize negotiations to move to Los Angeles FC, where former teammate Hugo Lloris currently plays.
In an earlier press conference, Son announced his decision to leave Tottenham this summer. After 10 years with the club, the South Korean forward scored 173 goals and made 81 assists in 454 appearances, winning the Europa League in the 2024-2025 season. He also won the FIFA Puskas Award for his solo goal against Burnley in 2019 and the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-2022 season with 23 goals.
The biggest hurdle in this deal is the salary. Son currently earns about 13 million USD per year at Tottenham, while the highest salary at Los Angeles FC is currently around 3.7 million USD. To overcome this obstacle, the American team will likely leverage funding from commercial partners, similar to Inter Miami's approach with superstar Lionel Messi.
Choi Hong-man was born in 1980 in Seoul and began his sports career with Ssireum, a traditional Korean form of wrestling. Thanks to his exceptional physique, he quickly rose to prominence, winning the national championship in 2003 and earning the nickname "Techno Goliath."
In 2005, Choi transitioned to the international stage, joining K-1, Japan's famous kickboxing league. He made a significant impact by winning the K-1 Grand Prix Seoul in his first season, becoming the first Korean fighter to achieve this feat.
Choi later ventured into MMA (mixed martial arts), competing in major leagues such as Dynamite!! and Dream, facing renowned fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, and Bobby Lashley.
Beyond martial arts, Choi has participated in various television programs, game shows, and commercials due to his striking appearance. He has appeared on shows like Infinity Challenge and Star King and is considered a pop culture icon in South Korea.
Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)
