Japan midfielder Hiroshi Nanami will return to his former club Jubilo Iwata after a frustrating spell at Italy's Venezia, officials of the J. League champion announced Saturday.
Nanami had handed in a transfer request last April after failing to secure a regular first-team place at Venezia, which signed him from Iwata for $2.5 million in July 1999.
Despite his desire to stay in Europe, Nanami failed to negotiate a move to another club and decided to return to Iwata after the club expressed an interest in re-signing him.
Petrovic going home
Yugoslav midfielder Zeljko Petrovic of J. League second division club the Urawa Reds is to quit the team after its home game on Sept. 16 against Omiya Ardija.
Petrovic, who has been at the club since the end of 1997, is leaving due to family reasons, the club announced on Sunday.
Petrovic has failed to score in 15 games this season. He scored once in 19 games last season when the Reds were relegated to Division Two.