reeves84
June 19th, 2002, 11:00:14 AM
South Korea hero Ahn Jung-hwan has been told by Perugia not to bother returning after his golden goal knocked Italy out of the World Cup.
Ahn has emerged as one of the stars of the tournament with goals against Italy and the USA, but Serse Cosmi, coach of the Korean's club side, insists he doesn't want the attacking midfielder back in his team.
Cosmi told Spain's El Pais newspaper: "The player did his duty in scoring the goal and in that regard he is not guilty, but I must do what is best for Italian football.
"I must say, if he had run for Perugia in the last two seasons like he ran against Italy, he would have been playing many more games.
Perugia president Alessandro Gaucci also confirmed that Ahn is not welcome in his adopted home town.
"I do not want to see him in Perugia again. I don't want to," he raged.
"Ahn will not play for Perugia any more. I called his agent, I talked with my executives, and made that decision.
"He was a phenomenal against Italy. But he never played like that for Perugia.
"I consider his attitude an offence to the country that helped him for two years, and as a president of an Italian club, I feel guilty.
"I don't want to pay him any more. We have ruined ourselves."
Ahn's dismissal is a decision which is likely to find favour among Perugia's fans. According to the Korean's former team-mate Giovanni Tedesco, the club's supporters feel betrayed by Ahn's actions.
'"Here, in Perugia, I have heard people shout: 'Ahn, do not come back'. They have taken it like treason. But, to be honest, he scored a great goal."
Great stuff! Country vs. club loyalty.
Ahn has emerged as one of the stars of the tournament with goals against Italy and the USA, but Serse Cosmi, coach of the Korean's club side, insists he doesn't want the attacking midfielder back in his team.
Cosmi told Spain's El Pais newspaper: "The player did his duty in scoring the goal and in that regard he is not guilty, but I must do what is best for Italian football.
"I must say, if he had run for Perugia in the last two seasons like he ran against Italy, he would have been playing many more games.
Perugia president Alessandro Gaucci also confirmed that Ahn is not welcome in his adopted home town.
"I do not want to see him in Perugia again. I don't want to," he raged.
"Ahn will not play for Perugia any more. I called his agent, I talked with my executives, and made that decision.
"He was a phenomenal against Italy. But he never played like that for Perugia.
"I consider his attitude an offence to the country that helped him for two years, and as a president of an Italian club, I feel guilty.
"I don't want to pay him any more. We have ruined ourselves."
Ahn's dismissal is a decision which is likely to find favour among Perugia's fans. According to the Korean's former team-mate Giovanni Tedesco, the club's supporters feel betrayed by Ahn's actions.
'"Here, in Perugia, I have heard people shout: 'Ahn, do not come back'. They have taken it like treason. But, to be honest, he scored a great goal."
Great stuff! Country vs. club loyalty.