By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
His words were brief, but to the point, making clear there was actually no decision to be made at all. ``I have no reason to move. I play at the best club in the world," said Manchester United's Korean superstar midfielder Park Ji-sung.
The diminutive winger, perhaps South Korea's most successful ever football export, was talking to ManUtd.kr, the club's official Korean Web site, Thursday, as he prepares to put pen to paper on a new four-year contract.
Word began emerging earlier this week that Park was set to agree a new deal with the European and World champions.
``Midfielder Park is likely to agree to a new four-year deal before the end of next month,'' reports had said.
Earlier, the club's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, spoke of the trust he has in the Korean player.
But his words appeared to confirm that a contract extension was imminent.
``It (a new contract) is not on the radar screen but he will be offered a contract," Ferguson was reported to have said.
``Ji has been fantastic for us and is one of our most consistent players," he added.
Park has appeared in 16 of United's 24 English Premier League (EPL) games this season and started 14 of them.
United have not lost a single one of those games and conceded only have conceded just two goals while he has been on the field.
When Park left Asia to pursue a career in Europe, he joined one of the biggest teams in Holland, PSV Eindhoven.
But in July 2005, he got his big move to United, agreeing a contract worth $2.8 million (3.8 billion won) per year, later increasing his earnings to $4 million (5.3 billion won) in 2006. Park's current deal expires in July 2010.
It now seems a case of when, not if, he will sign a new contract.