Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Inter Milan’s swashbuckling winger Yuto Nagatomo has become the second Japanese recipient of the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award, following in the footsteps of international team-mate and winner of the inaugural accolade Shinji Kagawa.
A series of stellar showings in Serie A as well as his eye-catching performances for Japan at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers earned the talented 27-year-old the prestigious accolade ahead of Samurai Blue team-mate and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Korea Republic international Son Heung-min, who plies his trade in the German Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
Japan Football Association President Kuniya Daini received the award on behalf of Nagatomo from AFC Vice President Ganesh Thapa (pictured).