박지성, 월드컵 출전 불투명..결혼은 7월쯤?

Published : Jan 22, 2014 - 11:22 Updated : Jan 22, 2014 - 11:22

박지성 (연합뉴스)

홍명보 축구대표팀 감독으로부터 '러브콜'을 받 은 박지성(에인트호번)이 브라질 월드컵 개막 직전 동남아시아에서 자선축구를 개최 하기로 하면서 대표팀 복귀 여부가 불투명해졌다.

박지성의 아버지인 박성종 JS파운데이션 상임이사는 22일 "5월 31일이나 6월 1일에 말레이시아나 인도네시아에서 자선축구를 치르기로 했다"고 밝혔다.

그는 "이번 계획은 오래전부터 추진해온 일정"이라며 "박지성이 3년전 대표팀에 서 은퇴하면서 구상한 일들을 계획적으로 해나가는 것"이라고 설명했다.

'박지성 자선축구'의 일정이 사실상 월드컵에 나서는 대표팀의 최종 전지훈련 일정과 겹치면서 박지성의 대표팀 복귀는 사실상 어려울 것으로 보인다.

축구대표팀은 5월 중하순께 최종명단 23명을 확정한 뒤 재소집돼 최종 전지훈련을 치르고 나서 6월초 격전지인 브라질로 이동할 예정이다.

이에 대해 박성종 씨는 "박지성의 대표팀 복귀를 놓고 주변에서 여러 가지 말을 할 수는 있지만 결국 가장 중요한 것은 박지성 스스로의 결정"이라고 밝혔다.

이어 "선수의 의견을 존중해야 한다고들 하면서 마치 월드컵 출전을 결정한 것처럼 분위기가 조성되고 있다"며 "박지성의 대표팀 복귀를 밀어붙이는 것은 오히려 선수의 의견을 존중하지 않는 것"이라고 아쉬워했다.

아직 홍명보 감독과 박지성이 직접 만나 의견을 나눈 게 아닌 만큼 기존에 준비 해온 사업들은 계속 준비돼야 한다는 게 박 씨의 설명이다.

특히 박지성이 대표팀에 복귀하더라도 '정신적인 지주' 역할 이외에는 실제로 뛸 자리가 마땅치 않은 것도 부담이다.

양쪽 측면은 손흥민(레버쿠젠)과 이청용(볼턴)이 자리 잡고 있고 중앙 미드필더 역시 구자철(마인츠), 기성용(선덜랜드), 김보경(카디프시티) 등이 버티고 있어 자칫 '백업 역할'에 그칠 수도 있다.

한편, 박성종 씨는 박지성의 결혼 일정에 대해 "6월에는 월드컵이 있어 5월초나 7월을 생각하고 있지만 아직 결정되지 않았다"고 설명했다.

<관련 영문 기사>

Park Ji-sung to host charity football match before World Cup, return to nat'l team doubtful

Former South Korean football captain Park Ji-sung will host a charity football match in Southeast Asia only days before the start of the FIFA World Cup, his father confirmed Wednesday, leaving the player's possible return to the national team in doubt.

Park Sung-jong, the player's father, said the footballer will host the annual charity event either on May 31 or June 1 in Malaysia or Indonesia. Park Ji-sung launched his own charity organization called JS Foundation in 2011 and has been hosting an All-Star football match to raise funds for children since that year.

"This is something he'd planned to do all along," the senior Park said. "He is executing plans that he'd made when he retired from international play three years ago."

If the former Manchester United midfielder commits to his own event, it appears unlikely he will join the national team in Brazil for the World Cup in early June. The tournament opens on June 12, and South Korea plans to travel to the host country early in that month.

Park hasn't played for South Korea since January 2011 and has repeatedly said he will not return to international action.

However, Hong Myung-bo, the current national team head coach, said earlier this month he hopes to have a meeting with Park and hear what the player has to say in person.

Hong has insisted he is not necessarily trying to persuade Park to come back but has also said it was "possible" that Park could be on the team in March for South Korea's friendly against Greece.

Park Sung-jong, who has acted as the player's de facto spokesman, said his son's opinion will matter the most in the end.

"People can say whatever they want about Park Ji-sung's return, but it's ultimately up to him," the senior Park said. "They say they want to respect the player's decision, but it seems like he's almost being forced to come back for the World Cup. That's not respecting his decision at all."

Hong has frequently talked about the need for veteran players at big events such as the World Cup, with the key players for the country mostly in their early- to mid-20s. Park, 32, has played in 100 international matches and three consecutive World Cups starting in 2002. He scored at least one goal in all three tournaments.

Currently with PSV Eindhoven in the top Dutch league, Park likely won't see regular action even if he is named to the South Korean team. On wings and in midfield, the country has a wealth of talented young players plying their trade in top European leagues, such as Son Heung-min of Bayer Leverkusen and Ki Sung-yueng of Sunderland.