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‘Japanese Messi’ set to return to Barcelona after 4 years in homeland

By Chiranjib Ghosh

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 22: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Takefusa Kubo of Yokohama F.Marinos in action during the 98th Emperor's Cup Round of 16 match between Yokohama F.Marinos and Vegalta Sendai at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium on August 22, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 22: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Takefusa Kubo of Yokohama F.Marinos in action during the 98th Emperor's Cup Round of 16 match between Yokohama F.Marinos and Vegalta Sendai at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium on August 22, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona are planning to re-sign the ‘Japanese Messi’, Takefusa Kubo

Barcelona scouts in Japan first noticed Takefusa Kubo in the youth academy of J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale. His potential was immediately recognised, and he subsequently moved to La Masia to continue his development.

But after 4 years at the club, he was deregistered due to a FIFA ban and he returned to Japan, with a move to FC Tokyo. He made his first-team debut at the age of 15, setting a record for the J1 League. Kubo also holds the record for the youngest goalscorer in the Japanese top-flight.

The 17-year old forward’s performances have earned him the nickname of ‘Japanese Messi’. Kubo is set to return to his old club in the summer, with ongoing negotiations between the club and FC Tokyo. Barça are close to beating Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.

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Kubo will join Barcelona B, reinforcing a squad whose attack has struggled this season. Club scouts have already confirmed that the starlet has the ‘Barça DNA’, with excellent dribbling and superb vision. He is also a prolific goalscorer, evident from his last season in the J3 League.

Finally, Barça will have an internal successor to Lionel Messi. In the past, players like Mohamed Salah have been touted as successors to Messi at the Camp Nou. But the successor to Leo Messi has to be from La Masia, and not a signing from any other club.

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Although Kubo is still very far away from even bench quality for Barça, he can now continue his development after getting regular minutes in Japan for the last 4 years. The short, left-footed starlet has the potential to the greatest Asian footballer of the 21st century.

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