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In the early morning of Los Angeles, we are shoulder to shoulder again - Lori x Son Heung-min s second youth

6:05pm, 9 August 2025Football

If time is pulled into a long river, the fog in London and the light in Los Angeles are separated by a turn.

Hugo Lori still remembers the afternoon when she met Son Heung-min in early 2012. The Korean boy dragged his suitcase and tentatively stepped on the grass in Bailu Lane, as if he was afraid of disturbing his old dream. Nine years later, Lori handed him the captain's armband; another year later, the two slapped their high fives in the morning breeze in California - the armband returned to the French arm, but the story is far from over.

"I thought we wouldn't be in the same team anymore," Lori said. "Until the club told me, 'Sonny is here.' At that moment, I knew that Tottenham's chapter was not finished, just a cover." The shadow of palm trees shaking along the training ground in Los Angeles. Son Heung-min picked the ball to Lori, the goalkeeper flew to save, the ball hit the net, and the two laughed at the same time - very much like the injury stoppage time at the Ajax Stadium in the Champions League semi-finals that year.

"London teaches us to win, Los Angeles wants to teach us to enjoy football." Son Heung-min wiped his sweat, "But Hugo reminded me that enjoyment and winning do not conflict, and he still hates his penalty kicks."

Fans shouted the names of the two outside the wire, and someone held up an old poster for the 2019 Champions League final. Lori turned the poster over and wrote behind her back:

"Chapter Two — Los Angeles, 2025."

Night is coming, and the city lights are pouring like a galaxy. Son Heung-min lowered his head to tidy up his sneakers, and Lori called him from afar: "Captain, are you going for a midnight snack?"

The Korean striker turned around and smiled like the boy who had just entered the Premier League nine years ago: "Of course, but this time I asked - after all, the transfer fee is me."

Laughter passed through the stadium, through nine years, through the heavy rain in London and the evening breeze in Los Angeles.

The story is not over, and the next page of the black and golden page has just opened.

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