Park Ji-sung is pictured in Harlington near London on Tuesday during his first team training session after joining the Queens Park Rangers. /From the QPR website

Queens Park Rangers' new signing Park Ji-sung joined the West London club's training session on Tuesday ahead of its two-week Asian Tour, which begins on Saturday.

The former Manchester United winger will join the team on its Asian swing, which will take in local teams in the region including one in Malaysia. QPR is owned by a Malaysian, Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes.

"I always enjoy touring Asia because fans invariably give me their passionate support," said Park.

Park stands a good shot of captaining the team during its fortnight in Asia. Joey Barton was stripped of captaincy after he punched an opposing player during the final game of the Premier League against Manchester City. QPR manager Mark Hughes said he is considering appointing Park as the team's new figurehead.

"He wore the red shirt of Manchester United in a distinguished way and he will bring a great deal to the team, I can't wait to start working with him," he added.

Park's father, Park Sung-jong, held a press conference on Tuesday at Park Ji-sung Football Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province and explained the story behind his son's transfer to QPR. He said Park decided to leave the club in the latter half of the season, and began searching for potential new employers via his agent after the season ended.

The biggest factor was his lack of playing time, with Park missing seven consecutive games in the second half of last season, according to his father.

The player was courted by a number of teams in Europe, the Middle East and China, and he held talks with Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, managed by Guus Hiddink, the man who led Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. But it was QPR that sealed the deal.

"We were moved by QPR's efforts to sign Ji-sung. QPR Manager Mark Hughes came all the way to Korea to meet with him," he said.

QPR owner Fernandes took a picture of Park using his mobile phone during the press conference and Twitted it, saying, "Look who is sitting next to me. The one and only Ji Sung Park."