Extension offer for Park Ji-sung 'satisfactory': father

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The father of South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung of Manchester United said Friday the recent contract extension offer for his son was "satisfactory."
In a phone interview, Park Sung-jong said the English Premier League club offered Ji-sung a two-year extension, and it's something his son had been seeking all along.



"It wasn't as though Ji-sung had wanted four or five more years," the senior Park said. Park Ji-sung is 30 years old, with a history of knee injuries. He had a major operation on his right knee in 2007, and the knee has often given him troubles since. He also retired from international play earlier this year, saying long trips to and from the national team took a heavy physical toll.
"His agent is dealing with all negotiations. I think the offer is acceptable," the father added.
On Thursday in Chicago, where Man United is in the midst of a preseason U.S. tour, the team manager Alex Ferguson told a news conference that Park has been offered a new contract and that he was "sure" the player would sign it.
"His career at United has been nothing but excellent, a tremendous professional," Ferguson said. "And I'm sure he'll accept the new offer and tie himself to the club for the next two years."
Park still has one year left on his current deal. He joined United in 2005 as the first South Korean in the Premier League.
His father said Ji-sung will probably sign the extension after the team finishes its American tour this month.
"In 2009, the extension talks ended in September," Park Sung-jong said. "But since there's still one year left on the deal, there's no reason to rush. It's the team that wants him more."
As for the salary, the father said he doesn't expect a major jump, though the increase this time could be larger than the raise from the 2009 extension.
Terms of the earlier extension were not disclosed, but Park's wages are estimated at around 70,000 pounds per week.