FORMER JUVENTUS star Han Kwang-Song once had the world at his feet as one of Italy’s most promising young forwards.
The 21-year-old, who is central to Kim Jong-un’s plan for North Korea to become a genuine force in world football, joined Qatari side Al-Duhail in January after failing to make a single appearance in Turin.
North Korea star Han Kwang-Song is now at Qatari club Al-DuhailCredit: Getty Images
The 21-year-old was once one of Italy’s brightest prospects but struggled at JuventusCredit: Getty Images
Juve signed the player for around £4.25million in the summer but he never played for the first-team, only appearing on the bench twice.
The majority of his time was spent in the Under-23s, where he failed to score in 17 appearances at the third-tier Serie C level.
A steep fall from grace for Han, who first arrived in Europe with Cagliari and went on to become the first-ever North Korean to play and score in Serie A.
Born in Pyongyang, the forward featured at a football academy in Barcelona before returning to his homeland to join FC Chobyong.
He then impressed at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile and Italian senator Antonio Razzi, close friends with Kim Jong-un, invited Han to join the ISM Academy in Italy.
Their footballers have been prohibited from appearing on TV, otherwise they would have repatriated him. Han is scared
Perugia president Massimiliano Santopadre
After breaking through at Cagliari, he soon began impressing on loan at Perugia, and his form saw him invited on to sports show La Domenica Sportiva.
The star was waiting in his hotel in Milan to be taken to the studio when the government of Pyongyang reportedly ordered a ban on the starlet making a public appearance over the phone, according to La Stampa.
Perugia president Massimiliano Santopadre said: “A call from a not very clear ministry figure arrived and it blocked everything.
“Negotiating was impossible because Pyongyang want to talk only and exclusively with Han.
“The situation with their government has become even more rigid and their footballers have been prohibited from appearing on TV, otherwise they would have repatriated him. Han is scared.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un once blocked Han from making a TV appearance in ItalyCredit: REUTERS
Mundo Deportivo claimed that Kim Jong-un acts as a father figure to Han and has always wanted to control everything, including the youngster’s career.
The North Korean dictator was even said to have been an avid watcher of Serie A to keep up on his fellow countryman’s progress.
Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool were once rumoured to be interesting in signing Han but the British government would have likely moved to block any Premier League move.
Expert in North Korean sport, Dr Udo Merkel, claimed this would have occurred because part of Han’s wages have to be sent home by law.
The move is not going to happen as long as the UN sanctions stay in place
Dr Udo Merkel on Han’s failed Premier League move
The Brighton University lecturer told the Daily Star: “Under current UN sanctions money sent to the North Korean government would be seriously considered support for the nuclear programme for the country.
“So I don’t think, under current the situation with several UN sanctions, and several UN resolutions banning the country from trading with any other countries to export, for example oil products and lots of other things to North Korea, that the move would be possible.
“The move is not going to happen as long as the UN sanctions stay in place.”
Asked if the British government would block the move, he said: “I think that is the most likely scenario.”
Now in Qatar, Han hopes to lead his country to only their third ever World Cup appearance when the Gulf State hosts the competition in 2022.
And North Korea, who are fourth in Group H, will also be cheered on by leader Kim, who is said to be “alive and well” following unconfirmed reports that he had died.
South Korea President Moon Jae-in’s foreign policy advisor Chung-in Moon told Fox News: “Our government position is firm…..Kim Jong-un is alive and well.”
“He has been staying in the Wonsan area since April 13. No suspicious movements have so far been detected.”
Kim Jong-un is ‘alive and well’ according to South Korean official who claims dictator staying in Wonsan resort
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
