CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda has confirmed that he is not keen on joining Italian club Lazio.
The Japan international was being heavily linked with a move to the Roman outfit in January but nothing ever eventuated and now he has suggested that if they are again keen, not to bother as it would not be a step forward for his career.
"Right now I can't say anything about a transfer. But in considering what I want in my future, the image I had at 20 is different from the one I have at 26. My end goal hasn't changed. All I can say is that even if Lazio approached me, I wouldn't go," Honda told Nikkan.
"Back then [during the January transfer window], Lazio had a shot at qualifying for the Champions League. But they did not get there. In the first half of the year I was 25, now I'm 26. A lot changes in half a year.
"Initially I'd planned on showing off my skills at the World Cup and leaving Russia after half a year, but since then two years have passed.
"It's like running 30 kilometres in a marathon to find out that you're off your pace. If you're running behind, you might look for a different path to take. If I hop on a car the rest of the way, I'll still struggle to reach my goal. If my pace is slow, I have to run faster. And in that respect I won't go to Lazio."
