Son Heung-min has discussed the heartbreak he suffered during the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Son said it was a difficult time for him, but he came out stronger. The player moved from German side Bayer Leverkusen to Spurs for £22 million, but he struggled to show his best in Brazil in the colours of South Korea. When he joined he struggled to fit into the Spurs culture, and was almost set to return to Germany. Wolfsburg were particularly interested, but he remained.

“It was tough for Son in the transfer window,” Mauricio Pochettino said but he decided to keep the Korean. Son’s gamble seems to be paying off as he has started the new campaign on bright note, scoring five goals in five games. In the UEFA Champions League, he got the only goal of the night in the 71st minute. The 24-year old has a rising profile in his native. The country had really high hopes for the team at the Olympics, yet they couldn’t get past the Round of 16. South Korea were the group winners, even ahead of the German team. However, their campaign ended when they lost to Honduras 1-0 in the knockout phase.

Son was distraught with the team’s performance, and the coach Shin Tae-Yong revealed that the youngster cried all day long. Manager Uli Stielike said the defeat was not fault of Son’s.

“After the Olympics, I was very upset. I was really down because I played for my country and I wanted to get some medals for my country, My heart was already in it for six months beforehand, but after the Olympics, I thought ‘now I have to focus on the season,” Son said. He added that his family and teammates helped him in emerging a stronger person. Son would have been excused from compulsory 21-month military service if he won any Olympic medal which all able-bodied males must do before they turn 28. He still has the opportunity in 2018.