According to Djeparov, the time he spent in the middle for FC Seoul last year after being loaned out to the Koreans by his Uzbek employers Bunyodkor, helped clinch the issue in favour of the K-Leaguers over a flood of other offers.

The 2008 AFC Player of the Year played 18 matches in the club’s successful title run and quickly became a favourite with the fans with his passing acumen and playmaking vision.

“I think the K-League is the best league in Asia and that is why I came back,” said Djeparov, 28, who powered Bunyodkor to their third Uzbek league title last year before switching to FC Seoul and helping them win their first league silverware since 2000.

“It was not about money at all. If it was (about money) I could have gone to West Asia. It was my decision to go to Korea because I wanted to play here.”

Djeparov, who was a key player of the Uzbek side that lost to Korea Republic in the recently concluded AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ third-fourth place play-off in Doha, said the supportive environment in FC Seoul was another determining factor and praised his team mates.

“Every player in FC Seoul welcomed me and I get along well with all my team mates, especially Kim Dong-jin, who can speak Russian. The fans are also very supporting.”

Djeparov was cool about his preferred playing position in Hwangbo Kwan’s team.

“I like to play in the middle but regardless of my position all that matters is a win,” said Djeparov who had one goal and seven assists in his previous stint.

“My main aim is to score as many goals as possible and win the K-League again this year. I also want to win the AFC Champions League and FA Cup,” added the midfielder, who has reached four AFC Champions League quarter-finals, two each with Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor.

FC Seoul will play Hangzhou Greentown of China, Japan’s Nagoya Grampus and the winners of the play-off (East) in Group F of the AFC Champions League 2011.