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Figo move to J-League reported
Portuguese veteran midfielder Luis Figo made headlines in the Japanese sports media about his possible transfer from Real Madrid to a J-League side.
But the reported move was denied by the popular J-League club, Urawa Red Diamonds, as a fantasy arising from Japan's love for the 32-year-old genius dribbler who once owned a Japanese-style restaurant. The major daily Sports Hochi reported that Urawa would make an offer to acquire Figo for a transfer fee of some two million euros (2.6 million dollars) set by Real Madrid, when the transfer market opens in June. But Urawa spokesman Hitoshi Sato said: "There is no truth in it at all." He explained that the story might have been stretched from a comment made by Urawa president Motoaki Inukai on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of Figo coming to Japan if his contract with Madrid was terminated this season. The president told reporters after a J-League executive meeting here that Real might be choosing between England skipper David Beckham and Figo as their key man for next year. "Acquiring Figo will be a plus to the J-League as a whole." Figo, who has failed to make the first team in recent Real matches, is due to announce in mid-May whether he will return to international football. He declared last August that he will retire from the Portuguese squad but he refused to shut the door completely on a possible return at a later date. Figo's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2006 but has yet to be renewed. Football clubs in Qatar and English Premiership side Tottenham are also reportedly keen on getting Figo.
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