Shunsuke Nakamura, recently of Celtic and now at Espanyol, has been told by Japan head coach Takeshi Okada that he must feature regularly for the Spanish side in order to be considered for the World Cup finals in South Africa 2010.While I'm all in favour of giving players an incentive to perform at their best, is Okada really trying to convince us that he will leave out the man who is by far Click to continue reading...

Espanyol's new player Shunsuke Nakamura (中村 俊輔) got a rock star welcome during� his official presentation in Barcelona on July 13, 2009 as hoards of the club's fans turnout out to see its new signing. Japan international Nakamura, 31, signed with Espanyol last month for an estimated annual wage of 1. Click to continue reading...

Everyone is excited about Espanyol signing Shunsuke Nakamura. The fans who nearly rioted when he arrived at the airport are calling him their Galactico and the media are comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo. Normally, professional footballers love this kind of ego-wanking adulation, but Nakamura, former Scottish Player of the Year with Celtic, would like everyone to calm the hell down.

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As Florentino Perez continues to degrade an already absurd transfer market into new realms of travesty, changes of a more sensible nature are afoot in Catalunya. The air is still calm outside the Nou Camp as the stardust still settles after the gloss that was last season. Yet across town in Cornella de Llobregat, the air couldn't be more supercharged with the flutter of parakeet wings as a fresh optimism seems to have sunk into the finishing touches of wet paint adorning the brand new Estadi RCDE.

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Spanish Football has another superstar Football player for nextseason, the "Japanese equivalent" of Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielderSHUNSUKE NAKAMURA has signed for two years with RCDESPANYOL.The Japanese player comes from Scottish Club GLASGOW CELTIC &comes "free" after finishing his contract at the Scottish team. Click to continue reading...

1. AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has said the Serie A club is open to offers for Andrea Pirlo, amid speculation the Italy midfielder could join former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.(BBC)
2. Hull boss Phil Brown has confirmed he is interested in bringing Michael Owen to the KC Stadium, after the striker confirmed today that he is leaving Newcastle (Independent)
3. Click to continue reading...

Looking more like a ward of hospital patients than a squad of professional footballers, Japan arrived in Melbourne with seemingly one goal in mind. Forget the three qualifying points on offer from their World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos, Takeshi Okada's men appeared more determined to avoid contracting swine flu as they disembarked in the sporting capital of Australia. Click to continue reading...

Australia v Japan (World Cup Qualifying)
Date: Wednesday 17th June
Kickoff: 10:00 GMT

Australia will clash against Japan in a World Cup qualifier that is more about pride and professional respect than points as both teams have already qualified for South Africa 2010. You can watch Australia v Japan live here.

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Japan will send an understrength squad to Melbourne to face Australia on June 17, with Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura not making the trip as he nurses a groin injury.
Nakamura is joined on the sidelines by influential Gamba Osaka playmaker Yasuhito Endo, while VfL Wolfsburg representatives Makoto Hasebe and Yoshito Okubo have also pulled out, as has in-form VVV Venlo midfielder Keisuke Honda. Click to continue reading...

Everybody watch out, Fergie's swingin' a big stick. With close to €100m euros in his pocket from the impending CRTBA sale, plus whatever was in the coffers to begin with, Fergie will be going on a spending spree to try and replace Ronaldo. The targets who will replace Cristiano's production on the pitch are Franck [. Click to continue reading...

Soccer City FC will post on newsworthy items regarding Espanyol's '09-10 transfer season(s). Please post tips, links, and leads in our comments section so that we can add your findings to our listing.

• Celtic - Espanyol: Transfer Rumours -- Shunsuke Nakamura To La Liga?

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Soccer City FC will post on newsworthy items regarding Celtic's '09-10 transfer season(s). Please post tips, links, and leads in our comments section so that we can add your findings to our listing.

• Celtic - Espanyol: Transfer Rumours -- Shunsuke Nakamura To La Liga?

Click to continue reading...

Shunsuke Nakamura's 2008-09 Scottish Premier League stats follow -- 30 starts, 2 substitutions, 8 goals, 11 assists, 49 shots, 28 shots on goal.
Related: -- Celtic - Espanyol: Transfer Rumours -- Shunsuke Nakamura To La Liga? Click to continue reading...

The all new rumour reporting article system is in full effect! The Rumour Celtic face the prospect of being stripped of two of their most talented performers once the curtain falls on the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season, with Scott Brown and Shunsuke Nakamura being lined up for moves to England . Click to continue reading...

It was a good win for Celtic over the weekend against Kilmarnock, but it didn't come without some controversy. They were comfortably leading 2-0 in the 80th minute when Shunsuke Nakamura was tackled from behind by what looked to be the ghost of Christmas past, resulting in a penalty. Frazer Wright, the guilty party (up [. Click to continue reading...

The Old Firm derby was as exciting as you'd expect. Rangers beat Celtic 4-2 at Celtic Park in a game where 2 players (Daniel Cousin and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink) were sent off. 2 goals from ex Celtic player Kenny Miller sunk the hearts of the home team, Daniel cousin scored the games opener with a tremendous solo effort. Click to continue reading...

This Celtic man is a bit of an enigma and it appears that many believe him to be a footballing god. whilst others question what all the fuss is about! Why not join the debate at the COS forum? Celtic's number 25 Shunsuke Nakamura, the 30-year-old former Reggina man, has helped ... Click to continue reading...

So much for the whole "I'm staying at Arsenal thing."

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has back-tracked from his statement last week that he was staying at Arsenal and is once again eyeing a move to AC Milan.

What should we believe? I think it's fair to say Adebayor is checking out options and is ready for a move.

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The national side played an Asian Qualifier for the South Africa World Cup 2010 on June 2 in Yokohama, which Japan won 3 - 0 against Oman. In this match, Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic) and Daisuke Matsui (Saint-Étienne) played very well and I really admired their performances. They are definitely the key-players for Japan! Click to continue reading...

And I would be remiss if I did not include this wonderful strike from my main Bhoy Shunsuke Nakamura in Celtic's 1-0 win over St. Mirren Sunday. That's the way to put that pasting from Barca in the rear-view mirror. Forza!

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Why do we love Shunsuke Nakamura? This is why we love Shunsuke Nakamura. The stand the Celtic midfielder has taken against racism in European football, specifically in the Lega Calcio is beyond admirable. Every year in the Champions League this is a problem, some of which gets reported (Hello DaMarcus Beasley, who has famously fought back against the problem) and most of which probably does not. Click to continue reading...