Nakata makes history in player poll

Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has been voted the Asian Player of the Year for the second successive season.

The Perugia player was signed to play in Italy's Serie A after the last World Cup for £2.5 million and he scored twice on his debut against then champions Juventus.

Nakata attracted interest from Manchester United last october who were ready to spend £10 million on the former Bellmere Hiratsuka player but Atletico Madrid and Arsenal now lead the chase to sign the most famous Japanese sports star oh his generation in the summer. Arsenal are on a sponsorship tour of the Far East at the moment and have met with representatives of Nakata. He helped Perugia to stay in the top division in Italy on Sunday scoring from a penalty in a 2-1 defeat by AC Milan. Perugia survived because Salernitana failed to win.

Nakata scored ten goals last season and earned a record amount for Perugia in sponsorship deals and the sale of television rights to Japan. Iran forward Ali Daei was voted into second place in the poll. No player has retained the award before Nakata was confirmed this morning as the winner again.