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Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa announces intention to return to Borussia Dortmund

Kagawa announces on Japanese TV that he would one day like to return to his former club should they want him back

Jack de Menezes
Monday 22 July 2013 11:46 BST
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Shinji Kagawa poses for a photograph on Manchester United's pre-season tour of Asia
Shinji Kagawa poses for a photograph on Manchester United's pre-season tour of Asia (GETTY IMAGES)

Shinji Kagawa has announced that he hopes to return to Borussia Dortmund someday, alerting Manchester United staff that Kagawa hasn’t settled in too well at Old Trafford.

Appearing on Japanese football show ‘Foot Brain’ on Saturday, the attacking midfielder said that he would like to play again for his former club, who he left last summer for United.

Kagawa said: “Someday I want to return to that team (Dortmund), I will be back someday…if Dortmund is okay with it.”

Whether he meant to, Kagawa has been dropping hints that his first season in England has not been an easy one, having had an injury-affected season that saw him make 26 appearances in total.

He had said: “It was a tough time for me with a lot going on in my head. I am not happy with my performance for the team at all. I didn’t score that much and I also had my (knee) injury.

“Despite that, it was great we won the league, I just don’t feel that I achieved everything that I wanted. For me personally, it wasn’t a good season.”

The Japanese international moved for £17m last summer, going on to score six goals for the side, but it seems that all is not well with life in the United Kingdom.

He did however admit that he wants success with United, although Kagawa – along with the rest of the team – will have to step-up their performances this season in what looks to be one of the closest Premier League campaigns to date.

Kagawa spoke today about his future, but he insists that he doesn't regret the decision to leave Dortmund in a season which they went on to reach the Champions League final.

"I was proud to see my former team play in the Champions League final, and I was very excited for them," he said.

"But it didn't make me feel I had made the wrong choice.

"In fact it made me feel stronger because I want to be on the same field in future."

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