Jose Mourinho names the Tottenham star 'who could play for the best teams'
Jose Mourinho managed Son Heung-min during his 17-month spell at Tottenham (Photo: Getty)
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min is more than capable of playing for the ‘best teams’ in the world, according to his former boss Jose Mourinho.
The legendary Portuguese manager has risked engulfing the wrath of Spurs fans by suggesting that their star forward is playing beneath his level though he insists he is not being ‘disrespectful’.
Son played under Mourinho during his ultimately unsuccessful spell in charge of the North London club from 2019 to 2021.
Though many players did not enjoy their time under the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss, the forward was one of a few who was able to thrive, with his strike partnership with Harry Kane becoming even deadlier.
The South Korea skipper scored 29 goals and made 25 assists in just 70 games under Mourinho, was voted Tottenham Player of the Season 2019/20, and was named in the Premier League Team of the Year for 2020/21.
‘I don’t look at Son as a Korean player. I look at Son as one of the best players in the world,’ Mourinho, who has been out of work since getting sacked by Roma in January, told EA Sports FC.
‘Maybe Tottenham supporters aren’t going to be happy with what I’m going to say, it’s not disrespectful. He could win titles, he could play for the best teams.
Son Heung-min has scored 17 goals so far this season (Photo: Getty)
‘He could be playing in England for Man City, for Liverpool, for Chelsea. It could be abroad, playing for one of the top teams.
‘He has that modern mobility of the attacking players. He can play through the middle, from the sides, wide to coming inside.’
Son is of course already a Tottenham legend, having scored 162 goals – the fifth most in the club’s history – and made 83 assists in 405 appearances since his debut nine years ago.
However, the 31-year-old has never won silverware, only coming close when Spurs reached the finals of the 2019 Champions League and the 2021 League Cup.
His contract is set to expire next summer and it is not clear if the club will retain him given his age.
For now, he’ll be looking to add to his goal tally further in the final few games of the season, starting with a home clash against Burnley, a game which could well relegate the Premier League strugglers and seal Spurs place in Europe for next season.
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