''We spoke with him and were on the verge of signing him. But I was honest with him and told him that my first choice was Mesut Ozil. I told Kagawa this without hiding anything. In the end, he chose Manchester United maybe because he could play more minutes in England. - Jose Mourinho, November 2013.
In the summer of 2012, Japanese playmaker was left at a crossroads - either stay at Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund and continue to excel, take a mammoth leap and rival Mesut Ozil for the No.10 slot at the Santiago Bernabeu, or become a fixture in Sir Alex Fergusons Manchester United side for years to come. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but Kagawa must surely realise he erred with his decision to move to England. Borussia Dortmund, the club where he was the focal point, would go on to reach the Champions League final that season, while Kagawa was left on the fringes of the title-winning Red Devils side. His future was cast in further doubt when Ferguson retired and David Moyes refused to pick him, before Louis van Gaal put him out of his misery this summer by sending him back to a Borussia Dortmund side who now sit 15th in La Liga. In terms of his decision to turn down Real Madrid - it was admirable in a way, as he knew that he couldnt compete with Jose Mourinhos preference for Ozil, but within a year, both men have left Spain entirely. The Japan star is two years older and back at the same club that he left to further his lofty ambitions. With Jurgen Klopps side having slumped to their fourth league defeat in a row, it would appear to be one step forward, and two steps backwards for Kagawas career.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
