Park a reluctant superstar

Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung life in England because of the anonymity it brings.

Park said he is an unknown in Manchester in comparison to his homeland of South Korea where he is regarded as a superstar.

The 31-year-old Seoul-born midfielder spoke with Manutd.com in a revealing interview regarding his initial move to the Red Devils and his experiences as a foreigner at the club.

“In my country I can’t do everything I want, but here I can walk everywhere and do anything. I like that,” Park said.

“I don’t like to be famous. I’m happy here because life is calmer.

“When United go to Asia the other players get to see what it’s like.

That’s what it’s like for me when I go home to my country, so I have to be quite mentally strong because it can be difficult to deal with. I am getting used to it.

“Now it’s no problem, but before it has been uncomfortable.”

Park also revealed how when he first signed for United in 2005, people in his homeland did not believe it.

“It was funny because on the day that I joined the club, the newspaper that broke the news was one that people don’t always trust or believe,” he said.

“Then, when I signed and there were pictures of me and Sir Alex Ferguson, people believed it. It was a big shock, I think.”

He added that his move to the Red Devils had boosted his profile in his homeland to megastar status, which is something his new Asian team-mate Shinji Kagawa may need to get used to.

“My reputation has increased not just in Korea, but across the continent. My reputation was already big in my country because of the World Cup in 2002, but after coming here the coverage has grown,” he said.

“I don’t feel too much pressure, though. All I can do is my best. Manchester is one of a few clubs, along with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan, that most people know about back home.

“People who don’t like football so much might not have known where Manchester was or who played for the team, but that’s changed.”