Lee Eager to Move to Chelsea
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Striker Lee Chun-soo of Ulsan Tigers expressed his strong confidence on going to the English Premier League (EPL).
``After failing in the Primera Liga, I though it would be difficult to play in a European league. However, I regained my confidence by playing game by game in the World Cups and other international matches,'' Lee said Wednesday. Lee lifted Ulsan to the K-League Cup final on his winning free kick in a 1-0 win over Suwon BlueWings in a semifinal match.
He added: ``When I first went to Spain I was too immature, but if I have the chance again, I will play with determination not to come back to Korea.''
The 25-year-old played in the Spanish league with Real Sociedad for a year in 2003.
Lee commented on the on-going rumor about his transferring to this seasons' EPL runner-up Chelsea.
``A few years ago, I expressed hopes of going to Chelsea and was criticized for the remark on the Internet. Now I would like to play in England although nothing has happened thus far. But I am glad to hear the prestigious English side is interested in me,'' he said.
The Korean footballer, the K-League's most valuable player in 2005, voiced a negative opinion on the speculation that his possible moving to Chelsea has been propelled by a sponsor, Samsung.
Samsung and Chelsea reached a five-year 50 million pound sponsorship agreement in 2005.
``I don't believe money is everything in the English stage. If Chelsea were not interested in me, it would not try to recruit me through the sponsorship. I heard from my agent that negotiations on my moving to the English league is underway,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Eurosport, a European sports Web site, scornfully commented on Wednesday to Lee's move to Chelsea.
It said, ``West London neighbors Chelsea and Fulham are fighting it out to sign Korean international Lee Chun-soo, but their eagerness to have him apparently has nothing to do with his football ability. Most importantly, though, he is a Korean, which is big news for the clubs' sponsors. Both bear the names of major Korean electronics companies on their shirts, making Lee more valuable off the pitch than on it.
``Manchester United's Park Ji-sung has established himself as a popular and useful squad player, but the Premiership's next Korean import could struggle at Chelsea. If 20 million pound Shaun Wright-Phillips can't get a game, what chance does Lee have?''
He responded to the remark on the Web site, ``I don't think Chelsea is courting me in terms of marketing. They show interest, because they need me. As for marketing, Japanese footballers are much more attractive.''
Lee will join the South Korean national team, Saturday, for the Asian Cup scheduled from July 7 to 29 in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, which will make him miss the K-League Cup final against FC Seoul on June 27 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Seoul edged Incheon United 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the other semifinal match.