Rio Ferdinand has admitted that Son Heung-min could be the best ever Asian player to play in the Premier League ahead of his former Manchester United team-mate, Park Ji-sung.
Park played over 200 times for the Red Devils during his seven-year stint at Old Trafford after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 2005.
He was part of multiple league-winning sides at United and even played a crucial role on their way to the Champions League title in 2008, very much being Sir Alex Ferguson’s go-to man in big matches.
While Son is yet to win a trophy since arriving in North London, his individual performances have already far outstripped what Park achieved.
The Tottenham star has improved every season since arriving in the Premier League and seems to have taken his game up another notch this campaign, currently sitting just one behind Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.
While Ferdinand said that Park was a great asset for the United side he played in, he admitted that Son would be one of his first picks if he could take any player in the world to Old Trafford.
The former England centre-back said on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE (via Football.London): “I have a got a question for you: ‘Is Son the best Asian player to come to the Premier League?
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“Listen, I played with more of a player’s player, but an absolute top player, top professional in Park Ji-sung.
“Park Ji-sung, you wanted him in your team. I remember he man-marked [Andrea] Pirlo out of a game once. Pirlo was waking up in the middle of the night and Ji was at the bottom of the bed waiting for him, giving him nightmares.
“But Son, man. If there was a player that I could take now [to Manchester United] that I feel would get the ball, he would be up there as one of my first picks, definitely in my top three.
“I love the way he plays, he is direct, he hurts teams, wants to score all the time, can go off both feet and he looks like a fantastic lad as well, so who is the best Asian player to play in the Premier League?”
Spurs Web Opinion
Park was underrated by many and certainly had an important role to play towards the end of Sir Alex’s reign but there really is no comparison between him and Son. Park was more of an important cog in a wheel while Son has been one of the most potent attackers in the league for the best part of five years.
Man Utd fans will bring up the silverware argument but the number of trophies won as a team does not indicate a player’s individual quality. Son is by far the best Asian player to have played in the Premier League. The 28-year-old will be hoping to seal that legacy by winning a trophy or two this season.
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