Tottenham’s Son Heung-min Silent in Preseason Opener Despite Wearing Captain’s Armband

Son Heung-min made his preseason debut as captain for Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to record an attacking contribution in a muted performance.

On July 19 (KST), Tottenham Hotspur faced third-tier English side Reading in a preseason friendly at Select Car Leasing Stadium in Berkshire, UK.

Son entered the pitch at the start of the second half, playing roughly 45 minutes until the final whistle. He appeared to lack full match fitness, attempting several dribbles and crosses from the left flank, only to be repeatedly thwarted by the Reading defense.

In the 72nd minute, Son lunged forward to connect with the ball after a corner kick, but his attempt sailed well off target. Later, in the 79th minute, his touch let him down as he tried to break into space on the left.

Ultimately, Son was unable to register a goal or assist. Nevertheless, Tottenham secured a 2-0 victory.

With only one year remaining on his contract, Son has been the subject of ongoing transfer speculation. According to UK media outlets, including the BBC, several clubs from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States are reportedly weighing moves for the Korean star.

The match also marked a first test for Tottenham’s new manager, Thomas Frank, who took charge of his debut game. During the first half, Cristian Romero captained the side, with Dominic Solanke deployed as the sole striker. However, the London club struggled to create meaningful attacking chances. Pedro Porro’s right-footed effort in the 40th minute was turned away by the Reading goalkeeper.

Frank made sweeping changes at halftime—bringing on an entirely new eleven, including Son Heung-min.

Early in the second half, Tottenham took the lead in the 49th minute when Luka Vuskovic’s header across the box from a corner was finished by Will Lancashire. Eight minutes later, Vuskovic scored himself with a non-stop shot, doubling the lead. The 18-year-old made a memorable debut with a goal and an assist.

Yang Min-hyeok was named on the substitutes’ bench but did not make an appearance.

Tottenham plans to embark on an Asian tour later this month, facing Arsenal in Hong Kong on July 31, followed by a match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News, Reuters