Shinji Kagawa has left Manchester United after just two seasons to return to Borussia Dortmund, the club from which United had signed him in the summer of 2012.
Dortmund are believed to have paid around £7m for the 25-year-old, half of what they received for him two years ago, with the Japanese’s price-tag driven down by two difficult seasons, during which he never managed to establish himself as regular starter at United, despite arriving at Old Trafford amid much promise.
The Japanese was deemed surplus to requirements by Louis Van Gaal and with Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria, Adnan Januzaj and Wayne Rooney all capable of occupying the number 10 role, his opportunities looked to be even more limited, particularly given Van Gaal’s inclination to play a 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 formation.
Kagawa leaves Old Trafford after 57 games in all competitions, during which he scored six goals and assisted 10, compared to the 29 goals and 16 assists he had recored in 79 games in all competitions during his first stint at Dortmund.
