Mourinho dismisses agency link in Son contract talks

Jose Mourinho claimed Son Heung-min’s decision to join the same management agency as him has no link to discussions over a new Tottenham contract for the South Korea star.

Son is in talks with Spurs over a new deal and recently joined CAA Base, who will represent his interests in addition to Mourinho’s.

The forward has made a fine start to the campaign, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, and is contracted to the club until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Mourinho said at a media conference ahead of their Europa League clash with Antwerp that Son’s decision to join CAA Base will not affect discussions, and he remains confident the 28-year-old will agree a new deal in the not-too-distant future.

“The agency represents me on my image rights and commercial outside my football job and that’s it,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t care about who represents players. I just care about what players give me on the pitch. I had nothing to do with that.

“The majority of my players don’t know who the agents are. An impact on Son’s future? I can probably say on the commercial level it will be a big impact because it is a worldwide and important agency.

“In relation to his contract, I am not worried about it. He has three years left on his contract. There is a good relationship between Daniel Levy and the people who represent him. We believe that sooner or later that will be resolved.

“I do not see any problem with that because he is a player with three years of contract. In other clubs there are problems with other players because they have contracts in a few months, but three years is a long time.”

Son has formed a brilliant partnership with Harry Kane so far this season, with the duo combining for nine Premier League goals – one shy of a club record.

Still smiling #UEL #COYS pic.twitter.com/m9VAfQIxb8

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 28, 2020

Mourinho also believes Gareth Bale is starting to show the kind of form he wants from the on-loan Real Madrid forward.

The 31-year-old Wales international, who did not feature against Burnley on Monday, will start the Group J encounter against Antwerp as he continues to build up his match fitness.

“Bale is playing and we all have not just a feeling but the data to show that Bale is arriving,” explained Mourinho.

“He is working very hard, he is being a great example for everybody. A big guy like him travelled to Burnley, stayed on the bench for 90 minutes, didn’t play for one minute.

“His behaviour as a team guy is incredible, his behaviour as a Tottenham guy is remarkable and he is coming. I can see just with my eyes but then scientific data is also coming and he is working very, very well.

“He is improving, improving a lot and I think already we can see Gareth at a good level and hopefully he can fly because he is working very hard.”

Tottenham are set to be without Eric Dier and Tanguy Ndombele for the match against the Belgium side with the midfield pair nursing slight injuries.

Mourinho added: “We left Dier behind because he comes with muscular injury from Monday night. Tanguy is not also coming because he felt little bit. We are not going to risk when have other options.”