Real Madrid outsmarts Barcelona in signing of ‘Japanese Messi’

Spanish giants, Real Madrid who are preparing for the next season are not taking any chances and have confirmed the move of 18-year-old Takefusa Kubo to the club from Tokyo FC just hours after unveiling their star signing Eden Haxarditno the club.

Real Madrid beat arch-rivals Barcelona to get the signature of Japanese starlet Takefusa Kubo, as it was announced in a statement on their official website, Los Blancos confirmed that the Tokyo FC teenager is to join the ranks of their ‘B’ team, Real Madrid Castilla, from the incoming season.

The swoop sees Madrid snap up a talent who was previously part of Barça’s youth set-up but had to return to Japan in 2015 in the wake of the FIFA sanctions handed to the Catalans over irregularities in the signing of international minors.

Having turned 18 earlier this month, Kubo is now free to move back to Europe and Barça had been hopeful that he would rejoin the fold at the Camp Nou.

England giants and Premier League winners, ManchesterCity, Bundesliga League and Ligue 1 winners Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain respectively had also recorded interests in the star.

Indeed, a deal was reportedly in place for the midfielder to go into the Blaugrana’s second team, Barça B, but the player opted against the move and instead chose Madrid, despite also attracting interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Capped once at senior level by Japan, Kubo has been included in the Samurai Blue’s squad for the Copa América, which gets underway today. The Japanese, who are making their second guest appearance at the South American tournament, have been drawn in a group with Uruguay, Ecuador and Chile.

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