Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Osaka: Japan's 2014 World Cup striker Yoichiro Kakitani has finally realised his dream to play football in Europe after agreeing a move to Swiss champions Basel, his club Cerezo Osaka announced on Monday.
The 24-yeard old was mainly on the bench at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, his first World Cup, having been called on the pitch late in the second half during the Samurai Blue’s group matches against Colombia and Cote d’Ivoire.
Japan crashed out in the first round after losing 2-1 to the Ivorians, drawing 0-0 with 10-man Greece and being whipped 4-1 by Colombia, a lower performance than in their 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa where they advanced to the Round of 16.
The Osaka native made his senior national team debut last year when he played two matches on the starting line-up at the East Asian Football Federation’s (EAFF) East Asian Cup, scoring three goals and helping his team finish as the champions.
And European clubs having been courting him since scoring 21 goals in the 2013 J.League season, but he turned down an offer from Italian Serie A club Florentina in January.
Current champions Basel, one of the most successful clubs in Switzerland, have won the Swiss Super League for the past five years and have won the top flight 17 times.
“I love Cerezo and I wanted to win a title together with my team-mates,” Kakitani was quoted as saying. “But I've been given another opportunity to play overseas, and after the disappointing World Cup I gave it a lot of consideration and decided to challenge myself at FC Basel.
“Cerezo have a number of players who can excel as striker. I hope they'll continue to shine as a team, and I'll try to play even harder (in Switzerland),” said Kakitani.
He will be given a formal send-off by Cerezo after their next J.League game on July 15 at home against Kawasaki Frontale, officials added on the club’s website.
Photo: AFP