Olympics - Japan's Honda eyeing Tokyo 2020

TOKYO (Reuters) - Keisuke Honda played his last match for the Japan national team at last month's World Cup finals but the former AC Milan midfielder says he wants to add a final flourish to his international career by competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Olympics - Japan's Honda eyeing Tokyo 2020

(Reuters)





The 32-year-old, who scored 37 times in 98 appearances for his country and is the only Japanese player to score at three World Cups, told Abema TV on Thursday he was not ready to hang up his boots just yet.

“I aspire to play in the Tokyo Olympics in two years, and I'm going to keep playing,” he said.

Countries can call upon three players over the age of 23 for the Olympic tournament.

Honda, who featured for Mexican top flight side Pachuca last season, is yet to decide on his next destination, though he has been linked with a move to Australian team Melbourne Victory.

Honda said during the Internet broadcast he was still in negotiations with an unnamed club.

“I want to do things beyond being a player. I've been negotiating with a club that understands what I want to do,” he said.

“We've had very positive conversations. It's a team that has been reported.

"If everything goes smoothly we should be able to announce in a few days."

















(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world