Tottenham star ended up in tears after hearing team-mate was quitting | Football | Sport

Son Heung-min admitted he felt ‘sorry’ about leaving Tottenham after witnessing his close friend and teammate Ben Davies break down. The 33-year-old forward bid farewell to north London last summer after spending a decade at Spurs.

The South Korean concluded his remarkable tenure with the Lilywhites, having scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists across 454 appearances. Following his role in bringing European glory back to the club through the Europa League triumph, Son collaborated with Thomas Frank to secure a transfer to MLS outfit Los Angeles FC – though not without an emotional send-off during the summer.

In his final outing for Spurs, which ended 1-1 against Newcastle, the forward acknowledged how difficult it was to witness the impact his exit had on his colleagues. Reflecting on Davies’ emotional response to his guard of honour, the footballer told BeIn Sports Thailand: «It’s worth mentioning that it was the first time I saw my good friend Ben Davies cry like that.

«He kept saying, ‘Don’t get too close to me.’ Seeing him tearing up, with his eyes going red and all, made me feel sorry and thankful at the same time.

«A mixture of feelings really. But as the godfather of his son, I need to strive for more to make my godson proud. I want to try and become a better person, footballer and godfather.»

Davies’ reaction to Son’s exit demonstrates the profound impact the striker had on his colleagues and how deeply he is missed in the capital. Son bid a heartfelt goodbye to Spurs in the summer, but it was his return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night that truly celebrated his illustrious career at the club.

The South Korean sensation was present for the club’s Champions League face-off with Slavia Prague, where he was honoured for his decade-long contribution to the Premier League club.

A crowd of over 47,000 fans gathered to salute Son, their cheers echoing around the stadium as he stepped onto the pitch.

Prior to this poignant moment, the 33-year-old confessed he anticipated an emotional reunion with the supporters.

He said: «It will be emotional. But it’s important for me and the club that this happens. I never got a proper chance to say goodbye to fans at the stadium.

«Now I am so happy because I am going to come back to London on 9th December for the Champions League match and be able to tell the Spurs fans in person just how much their support and love over 10 years has meant to me and my family.»