MILAN, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Japan international midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata will not be leaving Parma despite interest from Serie A rivals Brescia, a Parma official said on Thursday.
'Hidetoshi Nakata is no longer on the market,' Parma's general director Luca Baraldi told the club's website.
A Brescia official had said on Wednesday they were in talks to sign Nakata on a loan deal.
Nakata, the biggest name in Japanese soccer, has failed to establish himself at Parma since his summer move from AS Roma.
Parma are struggling in 15th place in Serie A and have changed coach twice this season.
Nakata's lack of regular appearances has raised questions about his likely role for Japan in the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.
Japan coach Philippe Troussier has made it clear that Nakata cannot expect an automatic place in the national side and even relegated him to the substitutes' bench for November's friendly with Italy in Saitama.
Brescia had hoped that Nakata could be tempted away in order to get regular first team football and to team up again with coach Carlo Mazzone who he worked with during a successful spell at Perugia -- his first club when he moved to Italy in 1998.
But Nakata was back in the starting line-up for Parma's Italian Cup tie against Udinese on Wednesday and now looks set to stay and fight for his place.
- NEWS