FC Tokyo say Nedved bid 'an option'
TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Japanese club FC Tokyo have not ruled out an audacious move for former European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved of the Czech Republic.
"It's not out of the question," FC Tokyo official Fumitoshi Wakabayashi told Reuters on Friday. "The club is always trying to improve and (Nedved) could be one option." The J-League club are lining up an offer for the Juventus midfielder in July in a deal worth around $10 million, Japan's Nikkan Sports daily reported.
"There is nothing concrete to say at this stage," Wakabayashi said. "But in truth I can't say if there's been contact made and at what level."
The 35-year-old Nedved won 91 caps for his country before retiring from international duty shortly after the 2006 World Cup. He was voted European player of the year in 2003.
"It all depends how things develop from now," FC Tokyo chairman Yutaka Murabayashi was quoted as saying. "But we will do everything we can (to sign Nedved)."
The Nikkan Sports said there had already been contact between the Japanese club and Nedved's agent.
Should he make the move, Nedved would follow a number of big-name players to join J-league clubs in the twilight of their careers, including former England striker Gary Lineker, Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov and Brazil great Zico.
FC Tokyo joined Japan's professional J-League in 1999 but have never challenged for the first division title, fourth place in 2003 their best finish to date. They were 12th in 2007.
Reuters