Injured Japan and Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo will not attend the national team's first training camp under coach Vahid Halilhodzic, the Japan Football Association said Monday.
Halilhodzic had named Nagatomo and two others who are not fully fit, so he could share his vision and policies with all of the team's core members. But Nagatomo will remain in Italy to receive treatment and rehab an injury he first suffered during January's Asian Cup in Australia.
"He is nearly fit enough (to resume playing with his club)," JFA technical director Masahiro Shimoda said. "It is for his benefit that he trains with the team on his road to recovery."
Schalke defender Atsuto Uchida, who was called up despite suffering from knee trouble, ran with his Japan teammates on Monday on the first day of national team training in Oita ahead of Friday's friendly against Tunisia. On March 31, Japan will take on Uzbekistan at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium.