Lingard fan from South Korea crosses globe to see Corinthians, hails stunning support | OneFootball

Hyeseong Kim, a 33-year-old FC Seoul supporter and Lingard admirer, crossed continents to watch Corinthians at Neo Química Arena. He left struck by the atmosphere and by forward Yuri Alberto.

According to Globo.com, after following South Korea at the World Cup in Mexico, he extended his trip to Brazil. In Rio he watched with locals as his team went out to Norway and visited the Maracanã. He then headed to Belo Horizonte and on to Mirassol to meet compatriot Chico Kim, who welcomed him, gave him a shirt, and invited him to training and lunch with the squad.

Back in São Paulo state he finally reached Neo Química Arena and saw Corinthians beat Remo 3-0 in their first Brasileirão match after the World Cup break, with Yuri Alberto starring.

Carrying an old Lingard shirt and a South Korea flag, he tried to get a photo. Home fans helped draw Lingard’s attention and, although a picture proved elusive, the midfielder, on the bench until midway through the second half, eventually spotted him and waved.

Kim said his interest in Corinthians pre-dated Lingard, sparked by Ronaldo Fenômeno’s brilliance at the 2002 World Cup and renewed when the striker returned to Brazil in 2009. Even in video games he tried to sign Ronaldo once the move made it more feasible.

He has now adopted Corinthians as his Brazilian club and, aiming to visit every country and back a team in each, plans to follow them from South Korea alongside other Lingard supporters. He noted that the squad now includes Memphis Depay and he rated Yuri Alberto as a very good player. For Kim, football can help bring Brazil and South Korea closer.

Source: Globo.com