Scottish Club Celtic Makes Offer to Ki
By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
FC Seoul refused an offer from Scottish club Glasgow Celtic for midfielder Ki Sung-yueng last week, saying the player is too vital to the team.
``Celtic sent us an official offer, which includes the transfer fee offer. We sent it to FC Seoul,'' an official at IB Sports, Lee's agency, told The Korea Times, Tuesday. ``The transfer fee is between 2 million euros (3.5 billion won or $2.9 million) and 3 million euros (5.3 billion won or $4.3 million).''
If FC Seoul had accepted the transaction, it would have been one of the most expensive deals ever for a K-League player.
Al-Nasr forward Lee Chun-soo moved from Ulsan Tigers to Real Sociedad in 2003 in a transfer agreement worth $3.5 million.
AS Monaco paid 2 million euros to FC Seoul to take Park Chu-young in 2008.
Recently, Lee Chung-yong moved to English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers. The financial terms were not disclosed, but it is reportedly about $3.5 million (4.4 billion won).
Despite FC Seoul's refusal, Ki's representatives will meet with Celtic in London on Wednesday to discuss contract terms.
FC Seoul currently sits atop the K-League table and say that Ki is simply too important to the team.
``It is true that we got an offer for Ki, but we cannot let him go. He is an important player in the club, and no one can replace him,'' FC Seoul spokesman Kim Byung-hyeok said. ``We already allowed Lee Chung-yong to move. Dejan and Lee Seung-yeoul are also waiting for national team calls.''
Striker Dejan Damjanovic of Montenegro will leave the club temporarily to join his national team and forward Lee Seung-yeoul was picked up by the U-20 national team squad, which will compete in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt next month.
The K-League's top team said the timing is wrong.
``There is no problem if we can delay it until after the season. If they had suggested earlier, we may have thought about it, but now there is no way.''
Fans, meanwhile, are divided on Ki's move.
``I hope Ki does well with Celtic FC. I am glad that we may be able to watch Scottish league games at home due to him,'' FC Seoul fan Lee Won-jae posted on the club's official Web site, Tuesday.
However, some fans criticized him, saying he's selfish.
``I think he has no affection for FC Seoul. Ki just wants to advance to Europe. He is full of ambition and desire for money,'' a Seoul fan wrote.
National team manager Huh Jung-moo has said it is good for his players to have experience playing in Europe, saying it could be an asset when the national team meets European sides in the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals.
Celtic is based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic has won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007-08 season, and the Scottish Cup 34 times. The club also played in the UEFA Cup last season.
Former Japanese national team midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura played for the club from 2005 to 2009, and is joined Spanish club Espanyol, recently.