Fabio Capello, manager of Serie A leaders AS Roma, said Friday he has no intention of releasing Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata for the Confederations Cup, which will collide with the run-in of the Italian season. Capello said he has told Japanese soccer officials of his plan to keep Nakata, who as a substitute scored a superb long-range goal and played a large part in Roma's injury-time equalizer in Sunday's vital 2-2 draw in a top-of-the-table clash at Juventus.
Nakata's performance, which helped Roma keep a nine-point lead in their bid to win their first league title in 18 years, came only two days after the Italian Football Federation scrapped restrictions limiting the number of foreign players that Serie A clubs can field.
"I'm waiting for a response from Japan. Once I get it, I'll make clear my stand about Nakata," said Capello, who had repeatedly expressed his intention to try to keep the 24-year-old in his squad for Roma's remaining fixtures.
For their final three league matches of the season, AS Roma will host AC Milan on May 27 before traveling to Napoli on June 10 and playing at home to Parma on the final weekend, June 17.
Nakata was included in the 35-man provisional Confederations Cup squad announced Thursday by the Japan Football Association, which is scheduled to unveil the final 23 members Wednesday.