SOCCER

Nakamura snubs Yokohama to join Espanyol

Monday 22nd June, 02:30 PM JST

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14 Comments

northlondon at 04:38 PM JST - 22nd June

Don't like the way Nakamura has handled this. Changed his mind again after rejecting Espaynol and has gone for the money. Marinos were the team who gave him his first chance and he has let them down and his Japanese fans.
harmoneeikaiwa at 05:54 PM JST - 22nd June

He coulda handled it better for sure,but he was not obliged to rejoin them.They had benefited from him too.
TeruSensei at 06:05 PM JST - 22nd June

Disappointing rdecision for J-League fans and fans of AFC football.
BurakuminDes at 06:36 PM JST - 22nd June

Playing in La Liga is a very smart choice from Nakamura. Playing in the J-League would (probably) pay better, but the standard is very poor compared to arguably the toughest league in the world. If the Blue Samurai are ever to beat any European sides, they MUST have more players moving away from the J-League. Good decision from a classy player!
periquito at 06:46 PM JST - 22nd June

We hope Nakamura would join our team soon. We'll be proud to see him playing in La Liga with Espanyol, and all his fans will be welcome.
bdaniel08 at 08:20 PM JST - 22nd June

but the standard is very poor compared to arguably the toughest league in the world

Oh really...La Liga, the toughest ?

I dont think so... What about the Premier League ?
northlondon at 11:26 PM JST - 22nd June

Oh really...La Liga, the toughest ?

I dont think so... What about the Premier League ?

Well, despite our league (the Premier League) having 3 teams in the semi-finals of this years Champions League, Barcelona beat the Premier League's best team (Man You) quite comfortably in the final, having seen off the second best team (Chelsea) in the semis. I think La Liga has a little bit more class and better technical skill than the Premier League, so it should suit Nakamura better.
Kreza23 at 11:37 PM JST - 22nd June

northlondon - You don't like how Nakamura handled this? Even though he has always wanted to play in La Liga, I think Shunsuke was pretty set on going back to Yokohama, until some bone-headed moves by the club. And if you're not aware of them, 1) After the Qatar match, Marinos strongly requested a photo shoot with Nakamura late at night, which he refused to do, and Yokohama had the nerve to be upset with that decision. 2) They pretty much demanded that he would play in the game against Urawa (which was scheduled yesterday) without any regards to the fact that he JUST finished a season in Europe and a spell with the national team. This all had to do with a TV deal they had made prior to Nakamura officially signing. 3) They went ahead and printed off a bunch of Nakamura jerseys and other goods without him signing. 4) They planned to charge fans to come and watch the press conference of Nakamura's signing.

Basically, they counted their chickens before they hatched, and he wasn't going to have any of it. I say good for him, and good luck in La Liga!
northlondon at 12:15 AM JST - 23rd June

Kreza, I don't like how Nakamura handled it. There, I've said it a second time. He gave all that crap about how he wanted his children to grow up in Japan and all that rubbish about having to travel so far for national team games (his supposed reason for leaving Celtic). Then he went and spoke to Espanyol !

1) After the Qatar match, Marinos strongly requested a photo shoot with Nakamura late at night, which he refused to do, and Yokohama had the nerve to be upset with that decision

If you're not aware, if you want the best signings, you have to compete buddy. That means doing the above.

3) They went ahead and printed off a bunch of Nakamura jerseys and other goods without him signing.

It's called being proactive my friend. If he had signed (because he had just rejected Espanyol and was talking to Marinos) then fans wouldn't have to wait for the printers.
smithinjapan at 12:57 AM JST - 23rd June

"It's called being proactive my friend. If he had signed (because he had just rejected Espanyol and was talking to Marinos) then fans wouldn't have to wait for the printers."

And now they get to keep 'em in the closet. Still premature, either way you slice it.
BurakuminDes at 02:28 AM JST - 23rd June

Oh really...La Liga, the toughest ?

I dont think so... What about the Premier League ?

I honestly prefer the Premier League. Love the best Premier League team, the mighty Hammers to death.... Cmon you Irons! But ANY of the top leagues in Europe (La Liga, Premier League, Seria A) would be great for Nakamura...or ANY Japanese player. Far better than J League.
xpompey8 at 03:34 AM JST - 23rd June

It's a great move by him career-wise. He can spend his waning years back where it all began after a couple of seasons in la liga.
bdaniel08 at 07:39 AM JST - 23rd June

Ok everybody : Premier League, the toughest physically...not the best for Nakamura ! La Liga, better technical skill...so the best suit for him !

But Barcelona having beaten 2 english teams doesnt make La Liga superior to the Premier League...because next to Barcelona in La Liga, its the abyss !
bogva at 10:13 AM JST - 23rd June

I am in a way F-Marinos fan (live in Yokohama) but to be honest I've been very surprised by Nakamura even considering to return to Japan 8)

Even though he is 30 there is still bred in him and he should stay at least few more seasons in Europe. J-league is for his retirement last 2 years. No matter what he thought for a moment he took the right decision in the end!

See what happened to the forward from Frankfurt - Takahara. He rarely plays for "reds" and they got him when they were on the rise. He would have been better of curing his injury in Germany and finding new team there. Fans loved him and he had good adaptation to their way of football.