Welcome to Manchester! New boy Kagawa teaches Rio Japanese on his first day

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All smiles: Shinji Kagawa is given a police escort at Manchester Airport

He's only been in Manchester for one day but United new boy Shinji Kagawa is already winning over the locals and his team-mates - including Rio Ferdinand.

The £17million recruit from Borussia Dortmund needed a police escort upon his arrival at Manchester Airport as ardent Japanese fans and television crews awaited the Japan international.

The 23-year-old appeared unfazed, however, and smiled throughout before heading to his first training session with his new team-mates hours later at the club's Carrington HQ.

Defender Ferdinand revealed the club's summer signing has wasted no time in teaching him some new skills... the art of speaking Japanese.

He told his legion of followers on social networking site Twitter: 'My 1st Japanese lesson, I should have referred to him as Kagawa Shinji, which is how he will be referred to on all Man United mags/progs etc.'

Kagawa will get his first taste of action in a United shirt next week when Sir Alex Ferguson's side travel to South Africa as part of their pre-season preparations.

And the midfielder told reporters in his native Osaka before landing in the North West that he is confident he will nail down a regular starting berth at Old Trafford.

Waiting game: Kagawa was greeted by his native Japanese fans and television crews upon his arrival

'It is a big challenge for me. I have nothing but a positive mind now,' he said

'First, I want to display what I have at the training camp and prepare myself so that I can firmly gain a position in time for the opening game.'