Rainy welcome for Shinji Kagawa as he undergoes Manchester United medical

MEDICAL: Shinji Kagawa

By Sean-Paul Doran

Shinji Kagawa was greeted by a typical Manchester welcome as he arrived in the city to complete his medical with United.

The £12million Japanese international was put through his paces at Old Trafford ahead of his expected move from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

Today has seen the Met Office issue a severe weather warning in the North West as heavy win and rain continue to batter the area.

Some players struggle to adapt to the harsh extremes of the English climate and Kagawa will now know what to expect ahead of his debut Premier League season.

The attacking midfielder’s move is still subject to securing a work permit and doubt had been cast as he hasn’t played in the required 75% of his country’s international fixtures in the last three years.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hopeful of forcing through the paperwork, even if it is by appeal as he has previously done successfully with Javier Hernandez.

The Premier League allows this rule to be bypassed when the player possesses ‘exceptional talent’ and Kagawa’s key role in Dortmund’s double-winning season should see him qualify.

The creative playmaker was involved in more top flight goals in Germany in the second half of the season than any other midfielder and finished the season with 16 goals to his name.

If the move is successful, Kagawa will carry a lot of United’s attacking threat next season as they attempt to wrestle the Premier League trophy back from neighbours City.

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