Today?s player of the day is the latest Manchester United signing Shinji Kagawa. Having signed from Borussia Dortmund on a four year deal Kagawa became the first Japanese player to play for the Manchester club. Kagawa boasts impressive statistics from the season just gone helping Dortmund to win the Bundesliga and DFB Cup double scoring 17 goals and 13 assists to become the league?s most efficient and best attacking midfielder. Kagawa will wear the number 26 shirt for Manchester United and will be keen to settle in and help United push for their 20th league title.
Kagawa has won many plaudits during his time with Dortmund and has twice been named in the Bundesliga best XI. Having signed for the German club in the summer of 2010 from Japanese side Cerezo Osaka for ?350,000 Kagawa went on to score 21 goals in 49 appearances in his 2 seasons at Dortmund.
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted his delight at brining the Japanese midfielder to Old Trafford stating ?Shinji is an exciting young midfielder with great skill, vision and a good eye for goal. I believe he will make an impact upon the team very quickly as he is suited to United?s style of play and we are all looking forward to working with him.?
Kagawa made his international in May 2008 in a friendly against the Ivory Coast which Japan won 1-0 and has gone on to make 33 appearances scoring 11 goals. He was part of Japan?s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and scored the only goal of the game in Japan?s 1-0 win over Paraguay. He was also a key part in Japan?s successful 2011 AFC Asian Cup win helping the team reach the final before breaking his metatarsal bone in the semi final. Japan went on to win the cup beating Australia in the final after extra time.
Become a fan of Shinji on Facebook by liking his Official PFA page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/shinji-kagawa/254364621340248
Source: DSG
Source: DSG