Italian Serie A team Perugia are set to offer Japanese international Hidetoshi Nakata, a star at France '98, a five-year contract worth almost $300,000 a year. Nakata, who has been learning Italian and English as he hopes for a move to Europe, played well in France, sporting a red barnet for the tournament.

Nakata, the Asian Player of the Year in 1997, was the only Asian player selected in a list of 61 players in contention for a place in FIFA's World Cup All-Star team.