Toke-E-Yo
08-11-2005, 10:55 AM
ITALY - Fiorentina's Japan international Hidetoshi Nakata could be on his way to the English Premiership for a loan spell with Bolton Wanderers.
According to Wednesday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, the two-time AFC Player of the Year has travelled to London to try and obtain a work permit so that the deal can be concluded.
The newspaper said Fiorentina director Pantaleo Corvino and Nakata's manager Giovanni Branchini met for talks on Tuesday in Florence where it was decided to let the player leave.
Confirming the news, Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said that: "Hidetoshi is a player I admire and it would be great to have him on board. We will see how the talks progress over the next couple of days."
Nakata joined Fiorentina from Bologna in July 2004 and signed a three-year contract. He made 20 appearances last season but failed to score.
Nakata's Italian adventure began soon after the 1998 World Cup in France when he left Japanese club Belmare Hiratsuka to join provincial side Perugia.
In his first season in Serie A he scored an impressive 10 goals in 33 matches which helped Perugia survive a relegation battle.
Nakata moved to Roma in January 2000 and the following year he collected a league winner's medal.
Soon after winning the championship, Roma sold him to Parma where he stayed for three seasons before signing for Bologna.
Nakata did not feature in the recent East Asian Football Championship, but has played in three of Japan's five World Cup 2006 Final Round Qualifiers. He also played in all three of Japan's FIFA Confederations Cup games.
Were Nakata to join Bolton, he would be the club's second signing from Asia following the acquistion of Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who will arrive at Bolton at the end of the year.
Nakata would become the third Japan international playing in the United Kingdom, with midfield partner Shunsuke Nakamura recently joining Celtic and Junichi Inamoto playing for West Bromwich Albion, who are also in the Premiership.
Well, I would love to see another Japanese player in England, especially because Imhoping Nakata will get off the bench, he can get bak in to his old form if given the chance
According to Wednesday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, the two-time AFC Player of the Year has travelled to London to try and obtain a work permit so that the deal can be concluded.
The newspaper said Fiorentina director Pantaleo Corvino and Nakata's manager Giovanni Branchini met for talks on Tuesday in Florence where it was decided to let the player leave.
Confirming the news, Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said that: "Hidetoshi is a player I admire and it would be great to have him on board. We will see how the talks progress over the next couple of days."
Nakata joined Fiorentina from Bologna in July 2004 and signed a three-year contract. He made 20 appearances last season but failed to score.
Nakata's Italian adventure began soon after the 1998 World Cup in France when he left Japanese club Belmare Hiratsuka to join provincial side Perugia.
In his first season in Serie A he scored an impressive 10 goals in 33 matches which helped Perugia survive a relegation battle.
Nakata moved to Roma in January 2000 and the following year he collected a league winner's medal.
Soon after winning the championship, Roma sold him to Parma where he stayed for three seasons before signing for Bologna.
Nakata did not feature in the recent East Asian Football Championship, but has played in three of Japan's five World Cup 2006 Final Round Qualifiers. He also played in all three of Japan's FIFA Confederations Cup games.
Were Nakata to join Bolton, he would be the club's second signing from Asia following the acquistion of Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who will arrive at Bolton at the end of the year.
Nakata would become the third Japan international playing in the United Kingdom, with midfield partner Shunsuke Nakamura recently joining Celtic and Junichi Inamoto playing for West Bromwich Albion, who are also in the Premiership.
Well, I would love to see another Japanese player in England, especially because Imhoping Nakata will get off the bench, he can get bak in to his old form if given the chance