Heung-Min Son’s dad ran up four flights of stairs to force through Tottenham transfer and ‘temper’ gave Bayer Leverkusen chiefs nightmares

Heung-Min Son has his father to thank for forcing through his transfer to Tottenham.

Spurs were desperate for a versatile new forward in 2015 and it was a straight race between Son and Saido Berahino.

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Tottenham were keen on a forward in 2015 and wanted either Son or BerahinoCredit: AFP

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Berahino had a special season at West Brom but his career declined afterCredit: Getty

Berahino had just scored 20 times in a campaign for West Brom and was looking like quite the prospect while Son had netted 17 for Leverkusen in 2014/15.

Eventually, Spurs landed Son for £22million – becoming the most expensive Asian player in the process – and has since went on to become a club legend.

But at one moment, the transfer was off the cards and was not going to happen – if not for the actions of Son’s father – who terrified Leverkusen chiefs into letting him leave.

Son Woong-jung is a former football as well, spending his career entirely in South Korea, but knows a thing or two about getting what he wants.

He told South Korean TV channel tvN: “It was really hard to get to Tottenham from Leverkusen. Mr Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham, came to meet us on his private helicopter.

“He kept on negotiating with Leverkusen but it didn’t work out. Leverkusen kept refusing to let Heung-Min go.

“But during the third negotiation, Mr Levy said that if we fail to negotiation this time, transferring to another team will not be easy.

“We were desperate to go. The coach didn’t trust Heung-Min, he kept switching him out.

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Son’s father, who was also a footballer, told how he forced Leverkusen chiefs into a rethinkCredit: tvn

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He also revealed how the same Leverkusen chiefs were having nightmares over himCredit: tvn

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No one should mess with Son’s dadCredit: TVN

“The third negotiation lasted 10 minutes and it was a failure, he asked where the Leverkusen negotiators were but they had already left.

“By chance, I saw them through a glass corridor on the fourth floor. I ran up four flights of stairs and stopped them.”

It was here where Son’s father managed to convince Leverkusen chiefs to meet with Tottenham again and try thrash out a deal.

But only through sheer fear as Son Sr later found out his temper might be the only reason his son got his dream move to London.

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Son has since become a frighteningly good goal-scoring forward at SpursCredit: Getty

He added: “That is how Heung-Min ended up going to Tottenham. I heard later on that they actually thought I was from North Korea.

“I was running up the stairs, I heard he had nightmares for days. He would wake up in the middle of the night.

“There was no reason to stay with a coach who did not acknowledge by boy. I was so desperate.

“That is how Heung-Min made the move to Tottenham… I have a temper…”

Whatever Son’s father said, it has been to Tottenham’s benefit after an incredible career at the club where he has now been confirmed as the new captain.

The 31-year-old has spent eight years at Spurs where he has made 377 appearances and scored 148 times – including some absolute beauties along the way.

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