Hong Myung-bo, a head coach of the South Korean men’s national football team, gave a piece of advice to footballer Park Chu-young, referring to his prolonged absence from professional play.

“Park should find a new team first in order to join the national soccer team,” said Hong bluntly in the meeting with reporters on Tuesday.

Hong did not call on Park for the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup, as the head of the Korean squad made it clear he would not pick any player who is not active on an established team. Park was not on the player list for the upcoming warm-up matches with Haiti on Sept. 6 and Croatia on Sept. 10.

“A player who is not running for the professionals play might lack a sense of the game, even if he has good talent,” said Hong.

Forward Park, currently playing for Arsenal, has not met expectations while playing for the Spanish club Celta Vigo, which has him on loan for the 2012-13 season.

By Tuesday, Park failed to transfer to clubs in England, Italy, Germany or France.

Park is now poised to try the Netherlands and Spain, whose transfer markets will close by 7 a.m. Wednesday. But there is no clear sign that any team in the two markets want to sign on Park.

If his current bid turns unsuccessful, Park would be pushed to find a new club during the winter transfer season, or wait until his contract with Arsenal expires in June 2014.

By Im Woo-jung, Intern reporter
(iwj@heraldcorp.com)