TOKYO - Japan fullback Yuto Nagatomo, who set a national record by appearing in five World Cups, said Saturday he will continue his career with J.League first-division club FC Tokyo, dismissing speculation that the veteran was set to retire.
"I still have unfinished business. My dream is to wear (FC Tokyo's) red-and-blue jersey, win the championship and lift the league trophy," Nagatomo told supporters ahead of the club's season opener against Machida Zelvia in Tokyo.
The 39-year-old Nagatomo, who spent seven seasons with Italian giants Inter Milan from January 2011, amassed 146 international caps with Japan and is only behind Yasuhito Endo's 152 on the list.
A livewire for the Samurai Blue, Nagatomo played in every World Cup game for Japan between 2010 and 2022, and also came on in their 1-1 draw with Sweden in the group stage of this summer's World Cup in North America.
The Ehime Prefecture native joined FC Tokyo in 2008 and signed for Italian side Cesena in the summer of 2010 before moving to Inter six months later. After playing for Galatasaray and Marseille, Nagatomo returned to the Tokyo-based outfit in 2021.
At the matchup between Tokyo-based clubs at Ajinomoto Stadium, Takahiro Akimoto scored the winner as Machida beat FC Tokyo 5-1.
The 28-year-old midfielder netted in first-half stoppage time to break a 1-1 deadlock, before Zelvia extended the lead in the second half.
