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Beleaguered Premier League side Arsenal said yesterday they had agreed a deal to sign striker Park Chu-Young from French club AS Monaco.
The 26-year-old South Korea captain scored 25 times in 91 appearances for the French club during three seasons in Ligue 1 and replaced Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung as captain of the national side earlier this year.
His arrival at the Emirates is a timely boost for Arsenal following their 8-2 thrashing by champions Manchester United last week—the first time in over a century the London club have conceded eight goals in a game.
“We are delighted to have signed Chu,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s website. “He will add true quality to our attacking forces and will be a valuable addition to the squad,” insisted the Frenchman, who made his name as a manager in charge of Monaco in the late 1980s.
Park, who made his debut for the South Korea senior side aged just 19, and played in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, said: “I am very honoured and I feel very happy to be at Arsenal.
“It is a dream to be here and I am really proud to be an Arsenal player. Now I just want to show how good I am and prove myself,” added Park, who had been linked with a move to French side Lille.
“In my opinion this is a great club, now I have to show what I can do on the pitch. I will do my best, I will never give up, I will show heart, I will give everything and I hope (the fans) will support me.”
The deal, subject to a formal registration process, is thought to be for an initial two years duraion amid reports Park will have to return home for a period of military service in 2013.
Uruguay’s Forlan to leave Atletico for Inter
MADRID: Diego Forlan is to leave La Liga club Atletico Madrid after four seasons and will join Serie A side Inter Milan, the Uruguay striker announced on Monday.
A La Liga topscorer with both Villarreal and Atletico, the former Manchester United forward was voted best player at the World Cup finals in South Africa last year as Uruguay reached the last four.
“Farewells are always hard, because it has been four years plus the three at Villarreal and now... I will be leaving behind people’s kindness, which I will never forget,” Forlan said at a news conference in the Spanish capital.
“I am looking forward very much to rejuvenating myself, it’s all new and it’s where you find motivation because the challenges are greater.
“You don’t often get a chance to go to Inter at the age of 32 and I hope I can live up to the expectations.”
The Copa America winner’s arrival at Inter is good news for coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has lost forwards Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala and Napoli respectively.
The Italian club, who lost their domestic crown to local rivals AC Milan last season, said in a statement on their website (www.inter.it) later on Monday that Forlan had arrived in the city.
“I am here to continue winning with Inter,” the club quoted him as telling journalists at Linate airport. “My goal is to play and score as much as possible for my new team.”
Forlan helped Atletico to a Europa League triumph in the 2009-10 season, when they also reached the final of Spain’s King’s Cup.
“I am very happy to be here and to be able to play for a fantastic team like Inter,” Forlan said. “It’s a great opportunity for my career.”
Meanwhile, Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder is expected to remain at the Serie A club this season following the departure of Samuel Eto’o to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
The Holland international has been strongly linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer, although Manchester United have constantly maintained they are not interested in a deal.
With the transfer window closing on Wednesday, the 27-year-old does not anticipate any last-minute surprises following the 20million euros sale of Cameroon forward Eto’o earlier this month.
Sneijder told Dutch newspaper AD: “It was either me or Eto’o to leave Inter and since he has now gone there is no need for Inter to sell me.”