'Challenge to win the vs League without relegation + selection'...Hwang Hee-chan, was he really right to stay in the EPL →'Pep successor'De Zerby offer rejected"I called him every day"

Sep 07, 2024

Hwang Hee-chan rejected a proposal from director Robert de Zerby, who was considered a world-renowned master. The outcome of his rejection will not be known until the end of this season, but it may be evaluated as a disappointing choice. Britain's The Sun reported on the 6th (Korea time) 'Hwang Hee-chan revealed how he rejected De Zerby's courtship' Hwang Hee-chan chose to stay at Wolverhampton despite coach De Zerby's phone courtship. REUTERS Yonhap News

Hwang Hee-chan rejected the offer of Robert de Gerby, the coach who was considered a world-class master. The outcome of his rejection will not be known until the end of this season, but it may be evaluated as a disappointing choice.

Britain's The Sun reported on the 6th (Korea time) 'Hwang Hee-chan revealed how he rejected De Zerby's courtship'

Hwang Hee-chan had been raised about the possibility of a transfer to Ligue 1 Marcéu this summer. At the time, French media reported that striker Hwang Hee-chan was included in the list of strikers prepared by the leaders of Marseille, and coach Roberto de Gervi also confirmed it.

Considering Hwang Hee-chan's performance in England last season, it was a natural interest. He left RB Leipzig for the England stage in the summer of 2021, joining Wolverhampton on loan with a full transfer option. He has consistently been listed as a starter even though Wolverhampton has been under Bruno Raz, Julen Lopetegui and Gary O'Neill. In particular, the 2023-2024 season was a season of great significance for Hwang Hee-chan. Despite the period of absence due to injury, he scored 12 goals in 29 league games and scored double-digit points in the league.

France's L'Equipe 'Hwang Hee-chan was nominated to reinforce the attack on Marseille along with Mason Greenwood, and Dezerbi also likes his style. I also faced him in the Brighton days. Marseille had explained the current situation by saying, 'We have not yet begun negotiations between the clubs. Wolverhampton's Molineux News also reported that Marseille is expected to use the sale price of £16.9 million for Iliman Ndiaye to recruit Hwang Hee-chan.

Some argued that transfer negotiations would be difficult, but it seemed possible because the opposing club was Marseille. Founded in 1899, Marseille is a team that has power in the European stage until recently enough to reach the semifinals of the Europa League in the 2023-2024 season. In the 1992-93 season, he also won the European Champions League, and French representatives such as Didier Deschamps, Frank Ribery and Eric Cantona passed through Marseille. He is known as the best derby rival in the French league for his performance against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). If Hwang Hee-chan wears a Marseille uniform, he can face Lee Kang-in in the derby next season.

Marseille appointed DeGerby as manager this summer, heralding a club reform. Since his days as head coach of Italy's Sasuolo, de Gervi has been largely influenced by Pep Guardiola's football style and even earned the nickname `the second Pep Guardiola.' However, Gerby desperately wanted to recruit Hwang Hee-chan, considering him as one of the pillars of the club's offensive reform. At that time, even the expected transfer fee was discussed in the British media. English Football Fancast is similar to former Wolverhampton star Diogo Jota. It will be similar to when Diogo Jota moved to Liverpool for 41 million pounds (about 73 billion won). Wolverhampton has an advantage over Hwang Hee-chan's sale this summer, it said.

However, the transfer was not made. Hwang Hee-chan's choice was Wolverhampton. Hwang Hee-chan decided to stay at Wolverhampton and play in the English Premier League (EPL) instead of leaving despite Marseille's proposal.

Der Sun called almost every day, suggesting Hwang Hee-chan to transfer to Marseille. However, Wolverhampton rejected the offer, and in the end, Marseille signed Greenwood. Hwang Hee-chan said he has no regrets at all staying at Wolverhampton, although he has been pushed out of the starting lineup in the last two games.

Hwang Hee-chan also needed a big decision this summer. De Zerby called me every day. He has also spoken to Wolverhampton manager Gary O'Neill several times about the transfer. I trusted O'Neill. He said I was an important player, which gave me great faith. "I told O'Neill that I would do my best to stay at Wolverhampton..." he said, explaining why he refused to stay at Wolverhampton.

However, it is unclear whether Hwang Hee-chan will not regret this decision even after the end of the season. There are already a lot of mixed situations between Wolverhampton and Hwang Hee-chan and Marseille.

Wolverhampton dropped to the 18th place relegation zone with no wins in their first three games of the season. Hwang Hee-chan also suffered the humiliation of being excluded from the selection in the third round against Nottingham Forest after the first match against Arsenal and Chelsea. He also failed to score a point of attack. On the other hand, coach de Gerby's Marseille ranks second after PSG, the leader, with two wins and one draw in three league games. His outstanding performance is also considered a strong favorite along with PSG this season as he is well-received in every game.

Hwang Hee-chan, who showed his affection for the EPL stage and Wolverhampton, rejected a transfer that could be a big turnaround in his career this summer. The outcome of the decision is likely to start to be determined by his performance this season.

digh1229@sportschosun.com