BEIJING - Former Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo said on Friday that he has joined Chinese first division league side Hunan Xiangtao from Mika in the Armenian Premier League.

"I am back home," Dong said. "But my return to China doesn't mean that I am incapable of playing abroad."

The 26-year-old Dong, who joined Mika in March, scored six goals for the Armenian club, including one each in the semifinal and final when they won the title of the Armenian FA Cup.

"Mika wants to extend the contract with me, but I refused," he said. "My parents and myself hope to come back."

Dong said he has not signed the deal with Hunan because they are still talking about some details. But he revealed that he will join the club's training camp on December 26.

Dong signed for Manchester United from Dalian Shide in January 2004, for an initial fee of 500,000 pounds which could have risen to 3.5 million, depending upon appearances.

But he failed to impress Alex Ferguson in the following four years. For most of the time he played on loan for Royal Antwerp in Belgium, where he scored 37 goals in three seasons.

He went back to Manchester United in 2007 but played only three times in the premier league and scored no goal. His contract was terminated in 2008.

Dong then joined home team Dalian Shide in the Chinese Super League but struggled to score goals and was relegated to the reserves as a result.

His poor performances in the league also prevented him from being called up for the Chinese national team.  So he went aboard again to join the little known Armenian league.

"This time I am sure I will play well in China," Dong said.