NAKATA WOULD LOVE UNITED MOVE
The 24-year-old is growing increasingly agitated at only playing a bit-part in Roma`s Serie A campaign this season and with next year`s World Cup in my mind - he wants a move.
As we reported earlier this week, a new sponsorship deal signed by Nakata with J-Phone - a subsidiary of United`s sponsors Vodafone - could play a part in taking the international forward to Old Trafford.
However, Nakata`s has now spoken publicly about his desire to move to The Premiership.
"I know that I am loved by Manchester United and I would love to play in England and the Premiership," revealed Nakata. "Playing for United would be an ideal situation.
"They are a great team and I know that I can help them.
"I can understand that the Roma coach Fabio Capello is reluctant to change a winning team, but if I continue to be left out, I will have to seriously consider my future.
"Money and prestige is one thing, but the most important thing for any footballer is playing and enjoying yourself.
"It is the World Cup in my country next season and I do not want to be on the sidelines."
Nakata moved to Rome in January 2000 in a deal worth more than £20 million, after just 18 months with Perugia, but he has played understudy to Francesco Totti during his time at the Stadio Olimpico and now he could be set to part company with the Italians.
The stumbling block for any deal could be the transfer fee involved - believed to be around £15 million, United could afford this but it would use a sizeable chunk of their transfer-kitty, although the this could be easily off-set against the massive marketing and commercial aspects the Japanese ace would bring.
United are already market leaders in football marketing and the chance to get their hands on possibly the most marketable man in world football would be mouth-watering, one example of Nakata`s popularity is the fact that during his short time at Perugia, more than 70,000 club shirts were sold in Japan.
