SEOUL, June 26: Ahn Jung-Hwan is refusing to return to Perugia, his agent said Wednesday, even though the Italian club claims to have patched up a bitter row with the South Korean World Cup hero over his match-winning goal against Italy.

The pinup boy of Korean soccer is instead lining up a move to another European league with clubs in England, Germany, Scotland and Spain all interested, said Ahn’s agent ePlayers.

Ahn is one of a host of Korean players now hoping to secure a contract with a top European club after South Korea reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.

But the player is still angry with his former Italian club, said ePlayers.

“He will never play again for Perugia,” said a statement released by the agent. “We will never consider his transfer to Perugia, which mounted a character assassination against Ahn just because he scored against Italy.”

ePlayers said Perugia had failed to keep to FIFA’s rules on extending a contract and was also four months in arrears on Ahn’s wages. His annual salary at Perugia is about 400,000 dollars.

Ahn Jong-Bok, chairman of ePlayers, said “Ahn Jung-Hwan does not want to go back to Perugia and Perugia has no right to demand him back.

“I sent a message to Perugia yesterday to state our position. The Korean people do not want Ahn to go back to Perugia.”—AFP