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Son Heung-min's warning, "There will be many competitors in your position."
Son Heung-min 32, who celebrated his 10th season in the English Premier League, advised Yang Min-hyuk 18, a promising player who became a teammate.
Asked if he had any advice for Yang Min-hyuk, Son replied in an interview released by Man In Blazer on the 14th, "It's really not easy to be a Premier League player. Everything has to be perfect."
Son said, "Everything is difficult, language, culture, physical characteristics. Everything has to be perfect in order to become the best player away from his family. I hope he is not afraid of this, but I want to give him a realistic warning. This can help him."
"I'm doing well in the K-League, but there are many players here who work hard every day to get a chance in his position," he stressed.
Tottenham announced the recruitment of Yang through the club's official website on April 28. Yang will join Tottenham in January 2025. He signed a long-term contract until 2030.
Yang is considered one of the top K-League prospects. He has played 25 K-League 1 games this season, scoring eight goals and four assists. He showed off his presence by sweeping the K-League's Young Player of the Month award in April and May consecutively.
Yang, who was born in 2006 and is still a senior at Gangneung Jeil High School under Gangwon Province, signed a semi-professional contract at the end of last year. During the winter training, he caught the eye of Gangwon FC coach Yoon Jeong-hwan and has grown into the team's mainstay. Despite his small physique, he displayed his strength in the professional stage based on his outstanding speed and footwork.
"It's an honor to be in a really big team," Yang said after transferring to Tottenham. "I have a problem of adaptation when I go overseas, and I have Son Heung-min. It's easy for Koreans to adapt. Son Heung-min was easier to choose because he is the captain of the Republic of Korea. I think he had a good influence on the transfer decision."
I didn't have a long conversation with Son, but I met him during a medical test and we had a short conversation. Son advised Yang, "You're doing great. Keep studying English."
Yang also played as an All-Star in the K-League during pre-season games against Team K-League, and faced off Son Heung-min. It was all the more special because the games were held after his joining ceremony for Tottenham.
After the game, when asked what he wanted to say to Yang Min-hyuk, Son Heung-min said, "I hope you enjoy it as much as you can and don't forget why you started playing soccer. I think it would be nice if you were told that you should continue to work hard."
Delivering Son's remarks, the British TBR Football said, "Yang Min-hyuk has a perfect mentor," adding, "Yang Min-hyuk may have difficulties when he arrives in the UK, but he has a perfect mentor named Son Heung-min. Son knows what it's like to move to the big leagues from Korea, and he has achieved success everywhere. Yang Min-hyuk will have difficulty adapting, but no player in the world of soccer can lead a younger player better than Son Heung-min. I will have to work hard, but if I have the right attitude, I can become a star of Tottenham for years to come."
