Honda Insists on Staying at Milan

Japanese football star Keisuke Honda is set on staying at his current club, AC Milan. Honda first joined the Serie A club on a free transfer in 2014 and is predominantly featured as an attacking midfielder. His performances for Milan, led him to be voted AfiE player of the year in 2014.

This past season, Honda has spent more time at the Rossoneri’s bench, than playing with his team mates. Almost two months have passed, since the 29-year old Honda has been featured as a starter for the Rossoneri. Some contribute Honda’s prolonged stay at the bench to his rumoured falling out with Milan’s current coach, Serbian Sinisa Mihajlovic. Honda was frustrated enough to venture voicing his disappointment and discontent at losing his starting-line position.

His name has been linked to major league clubs Tottenham, West Ham and Everton. Reports started circulating that the Japanese will take the first opportunity to move, after Mihajlovic openly stated everyone, who is discontented and wishes to go, is “free to leave”. Reportedly, Honda then retorted it’s useless to blame the players’ for Milan’s present downturn.

The midfielder current situation at Milan, caused many to speculate on his possible move to a Premier League club. Honda recently denied any such possibility exists. His intentions are to stick with Milan and remain at the San Siro, even if that means, he would be sitting at the Rossoneri’s bench.

Honda recently took the opportunity to address these rumours in an interview with a Japanese sports newspaper. The attacking midfielder explicitly stated he has no intention of leaving Milan whatsoever. He acknowledged the fact he accepts his recent disappointing performances. Honda also shared playing for Milan turned out to be far more challenging than he originally thought, when he first joined the club.

Honda went on to say sometimes he looks at things from a different perspective. At times he does not make decisions, one will expect from a football player to make. For instance, he continued, some people argued, he would be better off if he left Milan for another team, where he would be offered a starting-line position. Others maintained the Italian club did not suit his style of play.

The Japanese midfielder continued by saying, he refuses to give up and is resolved to stay with the Rossoneri, as long as he was wanted there. “I will tell you one thing clearly: I won’t leave Milan of my own accord.” It would be difficult for him to regain his place on the field, but he is prepared to fight back for his position, he said.