"You Are My Sunshine"... Tottenham Supports Son Heung-min Amid Conflict Rumors with Lee Kang-in?

Mention of the Nickname 'Sonshine' in Valentine's Day Commemorative Photo

Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain, PSG) were reported to have had a conflict during the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, and Tottenham has come forward to support Son Heung-min.

Mickey van der Pen added the phrase "You are my Sonshine" along with a photo of him gently touching Son Heung-min's ball.
[Image source=Captured from Tottenham Hotspur Korea official SNS]

On the 14th (Korean time), Tottenham posted several photos of players on their official social media accounts with supportive phrases such as "It was fate that we could be together" and "You are cute." In particular, a photo of Mickey van der Pen stroking Son Heung-min's ball with the phrase "You are my Sonshine" caught attention. It appears that Tottenham posted these photos to commemorate Valentine's Day on February 14th, but some interpreted the mention of the nickname 'Sonshine' as a way to cheer for Son Heung-min.

Previously, it was reported that Son Heung-min had a conflict related to table tennis with Lee Kang-in during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The British media outlet The Sun reported, "There was a quarrel between Son Heung-min and his teammates during dinner," adding, "Among the juniors Son Heung-min had issues with was Lee Kang-in." It was also reported that Son Heung-min injured his finger due to this incident. The Football Association also acknowledged the conflict between Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in. When some younger players finished dinner early and went to play table tennis, Son Heung-min advised rest and restraint, which led to friction and resulted in Son Heung-min injuring his finger.

The match between South Korea and Bahrain in Group E of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Team captains Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in are talking before taking a free kick.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the controversy grew, Lee Kang-in posted on Instagram, "I deeply disappointed the football fans who always support the national team. I am truly sorry. I should have taken the lead in following the seniors' words well, but I am only sorry for showing an unfavorable image to the football fans." He added, "I apologize to many who were disappointed in me. I am well aware of the interest and expectations football fans have for me. From now on, I will help the seniors and strive to become a better player and a better person."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.