Tottenham Hotspur’s star forward Son Heung-min has come to the defense of his teammate Rodrigo Bentancur after the Uruguayan midfielder was charged with misconduct by the Football Association for making insulting remarks towards him during a TV interview. The incident occurred in June when the host of Canal 10 show ‘Por La Camiseta’ asked Bentancur for a Tottenham shirt. Bentancur’s response, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too, as they all look the same,” has been widely condemned as racist.
Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s opening Europa League clash with Qarabag on Thursday, Son addressed the situation, saying: “I love Rodrigo. I love him. We’ve had a lot of good memories. He knew, and he apologized straight afterwards. I was on holiday and didn’t even know what happened. He sent me a long text, and you could tell it was from his heart. “He then saw me at training, and he was almost crying. He felt really sorry. We’re all human, and we make mistakes. I love Rodrigo, and we move on together as a brother. We just have to wait for the FA’s process, and that’s all I can say.”
Son’s unwavering support for Bentancur is a testament to their strong bond and highlights his understanding and compassion. The South Korean captain has been a vital part of Tottenham since joining in 2015, scoring 164 goals in 414 appearances. With his contract set to expire at the end of the current season, Son remains focused on helping Tottenham end their long wait for silverware, dating back to 2008.
“At this age, every second is like a goal, especially this season, we are in a lot of competitions, it feels like I am taking even more care on this,” Son said. “I am fully focused on this year and just want to win something that everyone at the club deserves. In the future, you never know what will happen, but I will give everything for this club because it’s been 10 years since I have been giving everything.”
While Bentancur faces potential disciplinary action from the FA, Son’s unwavering support for his teammate demonstrates the power of forgiveness and understanding in the face of adversity. It remains to be seen how the FA will proceed with the case, but one thing is certain – the bond between Son and Bentancur remains strong, and their shared ambition for Tottenham’s success remains a driving force for the team.
