*This content was translated by AI.
The crisis of dismantling the "Heungbu Duo" has been overcome, but the aftertaste is not refreshing. This is because the dream of Dennis Buanga (32), who wanted to play with Lionel Messi (39) at Inter Miami, was canceled due to LA FC's refusal
Britain's "The Athletic" said on the 25th (Korea Standard Time), "Inter Miami officially offered LA FC $13 million (about 17.5 billion won) in transfer fees to recruit Buanga."However, LA FC immediately refused," he reported.
The media explained, "LAFC had no intention of handing over the core ace contracted until 2027 to the rival team of the Western Conference." In the end, Miami made a sharp turn on Monterey striker Hermann Wertherame Target instead of Buanga.
When the news of the transfer was reported, Buanga publicly expressed his dissatisfaction. According to foreign media such as the U.S. "World Soccer Talk," Buanga said on his social media (SNS), "I was only a few inches away from my dream, but the club closed the door."
Local media interpret the "dream" mentioned by Buanga as "playing with Messi." In fact, it indirectly revealed that he wanted to work with Messi more than a partnership with Son Heung-min. As a result, LA FC fans expressed disappointment at the team's main player's inability to go to a rival team.
Eventually, the transfer window closed and Buanga returned to the team. Buanga, who appeared at the LA FC training site, reunited with Son Heung-min, his "soul partner."
It could have been a somewhat strained situation, but Son Heung-min relaxed the atmosphere. In a training video released by the LA FC club, Son Heung-min appeared to set the team's atmosphere by training with Buanga.
Although Buanga's dream of 'next to Messi' was thwarted, he returned as 'Son Heung-min's partner'. Fans are paying attention to Buanga, who left his heart ahead of the opening of the season, and whether he will show good performance again this season.
Buanga, who joined LA FC from AS Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2022, has become the team's main scorer so far with 101 goals and 42 assists in 152 games. In particular, in the 2025 season, when Son Heung-min joined, he made a career high with 32 goals and 10 assists, competing fiercely with Messi until the end of the season.
He showed good chemistry with Son Heung-min, who joined during the season, leading LA FC to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Audi MLS Cup (Playoff) and was also selected as the best 11 MLS.
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*This content was translated by AI.
