Kagawa to skip Olympics

Alex Ferguson has been handed some good news after it was confirmed new signing Shinji Kagawa would not be called up for Olympic duty by Japan.

The Manchester United boss has already put his foot down over the London 2012 tournament, even though Great Britain will play their first match against Senegal, at Old Trafford on July 25.

Ferguson has barred any over-age player, with the exception of Ryan Giggs, from being called up by GB boss Stuart Pearce, and persuaded Mexico to give Javier Hernandez a rest.

Twenty-three-year-old Kagawa is eligible to compete but it has been confirmed the midfielder, who will join United from German champions Borussia Dortmund once he has passed a medical and gained a work permit, will not be selected.

Japanese FA technical director Hiromi Hara said: “We came to the conclusion that not giving him enough rest is not good for his future nor our final World Cup qualifiers.

“I talked to Kagawa directly and told him he would not be chosen.”