“I was really cringing, thank you”.
Daejeon Hana Citizen drew 1-1 away to Jeonbuk Hyundai in the 28th round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 25th.
The player who received the most attention on the day was Bae Jun-ho (Daejeon). Bae Jun-ho has recently been linked with a move to Stoke City in the English Championship (2nd Division).
Currently, the agreement between Daejeon and Stoke City has been finalized. All that remains is to finalize personal terms. Italian side Torino were interested in Bae and talks were held, but the more aggressive Stoke City made an official offer and the transfer was tipped to go through.
“Stoke City are in advanced talks to sign Bae Joon-ho,” said Football Insider, “Bae scored three goals in seven games at the U-20 World Cup, helping South Korea to a fourth-place finish. Stoke City see him as a player who can play up front and add creativity to their attack.”
Bae was a mainstay of the South Korea U-20 squad led by Kim Eun-joong in June, wearing the number 10 shirt at the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
At the height of the U-20 World Cup, FIFA highlighted Bae Jun-ho on its official website as Korea’s Player of the Week, stating, “His creativity and unpredictable movements have been instrumental in the Taeguk Warriors’ challenge. Whenever he gets the ball, Korean fans scream and opponents panic.”
After the U-20 World Cup, Bae Jun-ho returned to his club Daejeon Hana Citizen and continued to play in the K League 1. 바카라
In a post-match press conference, Bae said, “I was desperate to win, but it’s a shame. I think we can win next time,” he said.
When asked about his transfer to Stoke City, Bae said, “It’s progressing positively. I think the final decision will be made in the next week or so,” he said.
He also said, “Stoke City were the most active in showing interest. I know they were the most active among many teams. It won’t be easy, but I want to adapt quickly and play to my full potential,” he added.
Bae was also determined: “It was important for me to get playing time. It’s a high-level league. I thought it would be competitive. I want to show a good performance after securing a lot of opportunities.”
The fans in Daejeon sent messages of support. After the game, they handed Bae Jun-ho a picket sign asking him to go to Europe and then come back.
“Coach Lee Min-sung, the club, and Hana Financial Group really helped me a lot, and I cried when I saw the fans’ support. I am so grateful to the fans. I was able to get opportunities and grow because of their support,” he emphasized.