Nakamura´s Yokohama talks stalled: reports

Talks over the transfer of Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura to former club Yokohama Marinos have stalled over “unforeseen problems,” press reports said Friday.

The Sports Nippon daily quoted an unidentified party involved in the talks as saying the chances of a deal that would take the player back to his first professional club were “almost gone.”

Spanish league strugglers Espanyol are among overseas clubs reportedly interested in acquiring Nakamura, whose deal with the former Scottish champions is due to expire at the end of this month.

The Daily Sports said Nakamura’s side had been disappointed by Yokohama’s “lack of sincerity” such as a demand for his appearance at a publicity event before he signed a contract.

Nakamura, who turns 31 on June 24, failed to show up for a medical check organised by Yokohama Marinos on Thursday.

“There have been unforeseen problems and that is why discussions are taking longer than first expected,” Yokohama Marinos president Masaharu Saito told reporters Thursday, according to Kyodo News and other media.

“But I believe we will soon get the answer we are hoping for. We have tried to put together the best offer we can and are just waiting for a reply.”

Nakamura has spent the past seven seasons in Europe, the first three with Italy’s Reggina and the rest at Parkhead.

He had expressed a wish to play in Spain but in recent years has stated his desire to return to the J-League, partly to avoid the rigours of travelling long distances for international duty.