‘Japanese Messi’ wants to become Klopp’s Next Kagawa – but Real Madrid/PSG lurking

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Super-talented Japanese playmaker Takefusa Kubo has spoken about how much he admires Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, amid links to multiple European behemoths.

Goal reckons Real Madrid and PSG want to rival Barcelona for the FC Tokyo starlet’s signature, after Kubo’s impressive rise in the J-League.

Kubo was once a member of Barcelona’s Academy, but was sent back to his homeland and deregistered as a player because of the club’s transfer ban in 2015 – given because of irregularities in regards to signing youth players.

The 17-year-old didn’t take long to settle back in Japan, however, becoming the J-League’s youngest scorer aged 15 two years ago.

And when asked about his potential European future, Kubo let everyone know he thinks Liverpool are ‘awesome’!

“The team I think play the most interesting football is Liverpool,” he told Goal.com – who nickname Kubo ‘Japanese Messi’.

“I feel they are awesome when I watch their games. It’s not really to say they are my ‘favourite’, but more like ‘awesome’.

“I like fast and skilful players. All the big teams have these types of players, and when I watch them I feel they are awesome. I am not very fast, so I really like players who possess overwhelming speed. Those players make me feel ‘Wow, awesome!’.”

Klopp has serious pedigree when it comes to signing obscure players from Japan, of course.

In 2010, our manager bought Shiniji Kagawa when in charge of Borussia Dortmund, and the attacking midfielder developed into a world-class operator and won back to back Bundesliga titles under Klopp’s guidance.

We know very little about Kubo as a player, but there’s some pretty hefty compilations on the youngster on YouTube.

The comparisons to Messi are obvious. He’s small, a terrific dribbler and possesses a wand of a left-foot. Have a look for yourself:

 

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