It would be fair to say there has been a mixed reaction following Shinji Kagawa’s transfer from Borussia Dortmund, with some supporters concerned that the Japan international has simply been recruited to boost shirt sales in the Far East. However, since the £16m transfer many people have moved to defend the deal, with the latest being Kagawa’s Japan teammates who claim that the 23-year-old is a special player who will prove a real menace in the Premier League.
With the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea poised to spend big during the summer, several sections of the United support have issued concerns that the Red Devils are going to lag significantly behind their rivals. While their latest signing Kagawa was regarded as an integral part of Dortmund’s recent Bundesliga success, there are still question marks on whether or not he possesses the talent to replicate such form in England’s top flight.
However, several of Kagawa’s international teammates have quickly moved to back their fellow countryman, with Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi telling Kyodo News, “Kagawa can keep the ball in the smallest of spaces and is a quick decision-maker. He can play there [Manchester United] for sure. He’s Japan’s number 10, and I think he’ll be able to perform even at a glamorous side like Manchester United.”
Miyaichi is not the only player to issue such praise, with CSKA Moscow forward Keisuke Honda claiming that Kagawa “deserves to be at a top club”, while Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe saying that Japanese youngsters should try and base their game on the new United signing.
Whether or not such comments are enough to convince the Old Trafford faithful is another matter. In the meantime, Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to ignore such sceptics and concentrate on rebuilding his United outfit, with Leighton Baines and Luka Modric supposedly next on his transfer hit list.