:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54886799/686320714.0.jpg)
Through his Twitter feed, AC Milan’s Japanese midfielder, Keisuke Honda has announced that he is leaving the club after over three years at the San Siro with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Lascerò' il Milan termine di questa stagione ma spero di rivedervi presto, magari in in veste diverse da quelle di calciatore.#weareacmilan
— KeisukeHonda (@kskgroup2017) May 21, 2017
Keisuke’s Italian was kindly translated by Michele Pasquali, the co-manager of this site:
"I'm going to leave Milan at the end of this season but I hope to see you soon, perhaps in a different role and not as a player. #weareacmilan"
Honda hasn’t enjoyed his best spell of football since moving to Italy in the January of 2014 following a multi-million euro move from CSKA Moscow. Through numerous spells on the bench, he totted up just over ten goals and fourteen assists in a 91 game stay with AC Milan.
However, Honda left the best departing gift to the Rossoneri that he could muster, by dispatching an expertly placed trademark freekick into the corner of the net to double Milan’s lead against Bologna yesterday and to help ensure that Milan returned to European competition. One that he won’t be partaking in, though. Professional to the end!
Of note - Honda said that he wants to return to Milan, but not as a player. There isn’t much news about Honda pursuing coaching badges (however he has taught at various ‘soccer clinics) - so one would assume that Honda wishes to have a role as a club ambassador. This might not be the last we’ve seen of Keisuke Honda in Milan!