While the player himself spurned reporters as he insisted on focusing on his national team duties, his Samurai Blue team-mates were more than willing to discuss their compatriot's bombshell move to the Premier League.
KAGAWA SET FOR UNITED |
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Manchester United have agreed a fee with Dortmund for the Japan international |
As Alberto Zaccheroni's side prepared for their Friday night 2014 World Cup qualifier with Jordan, one of Kagawa's team-mates threw his hat in the ring as the next Japanese player to join a top club.
"Shinji's the perfect player for a world-class team. As a fellow Japanese I'm proud of him," an unreserved Keisuke Honda told reporters. "But at the same time as a rival, I'm aiming to play at a big club too, and I think I'd fit in just as well."
Kagawa will become the fifth Japanese to play in the Premier League following Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal and Fulham), Kazuyuki Toda (Tottenham), Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton), and Ryo Miyaichi (Arsenal and Bolton).
The 23-year-old will be the first Japanese player at Manchester United, who will also become the first club to have fielded players from Japan, South Korea and China.
"He can absolutely play well there, and as Japan's number 10 I think he'll be a major part of the team," said 19-year-old Miyaichi, who may play against Kagawa next season as a member of Arsenal's squad.
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SLOW START FOR SHINJI? |
11/4 | Shinji Kagawa is 11/4 to score less than four goals for Manchester United next season with William Hill |
He added: "But first I have to earn my appearances. I'm looking forward to playing against him."
But despite the media hype, defender Atsuto Uchida managed to find humour in the announcement.
"Didn't they sign him because he doesn't have any big scandals?" the Schalke man laughed as he recalled 6-1 aggregate loss to the Premier League club in the 2010-11 Champions League semi-finals. "I bet he'll be on the front page in the morning."
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