'I won't regret joining Arsenal' - South Korea captain Park Chu-Young to complete £3m move with backing of national team manager
The forward completed the second part of his medical with the Gunners on Sunday and is set to join the club on Monday for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £3 millionArsenal will complete the signing of South Korea captain Park Chu-Young from Monaco on Monday.
Park passed the second part of his medical at Arsenal's London Colney training ground on Sunday and has agreed personal terms after the Premier League club dramatically stole him from under the noses of French champions Lille on Saturday morning.
The 26-year-old striker arrived at Incheon Airport in Seoul at 07:15 UK time on Monday to prepare for South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on Tuesday week and told reporters: "I had to make a decision between Arsenal and Lille. And the decision had to be what I want and won't regret."
Park's move to Arsenal, which will cost an initial fee of around £3 million, has been endorsed by Cho Kwang Rae, the national team manager.
He said: "He [Park] will playing many games in the EPL, he will be able to grow into a better player. It might be helpful for the national team."
It is understood that Arsenal made bigger fee and contract offers than Lille, which was enough to seal the transfer. Park did not show for the second part of his medical on Saturday morning after undergoing the first part on Friday afternoon. Lille officials discovered that his hotel room was empty, with not a word about where he had gone, and tracked him down at the Eurostar terminal, where Park told them he was heading for London to sign for Arsenal.
Park's u-turn has left a sour taste at the French club, who had fully expected to unveil him at the weekend after all but finalising the player's move back to Ligue 1 from Ligue 2, where Monaco were relegated last season.
How long Park will be at Arsenal is unclear, as all able-bodied men in South Korea must begin military service for the country's armed forces before the age of 28. Unless the darling of the national team is excused service, he will have to leave Arsenal in 2013.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2011/08/29/2641448/i-wont-regret-joining-arsenal-south-korea-captain-park-chu-young-