Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he signed Park Ji-sung for his capabilities on the field rather his ability to help sell more club shirts in South Korea.
Park scored the winning goal as United came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday after Wayne Rooney had scored his 33rd league and cup goal of the season, keeping the club two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Ferguson said Park’s commercial value wasn’t an issue when he signed the South Korea winger from PSV Eindhoven in 2005. Instead, it was his work rate, intelligence and attitude.
PHOTO: EPA
“I didn’t think that [about commercial spinoffs],” Ferguson said. “When I went to see him play in those Champions League semi-finals for PSV Eindhoven in 2005, I thought this is a player who understands football. He is intelligent and disciplined and he can play different positions. I had no issues about that at all.”
Last week, Park said he was convinced United did not sign him to boost shirt sales, even though the club’s two preseason tours of Asia led to huge commercial spinoffs.
“I didn’t get a sense of just being signed for commercial reasons,” Park said. “I wanted to show that Asian players could make it in Europe.”
After a goal that has taken United closer to an unprecedented fourth league title in a row, Park said he was delighted to hit the target against one of the team’s biggest rivals.
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