Take Kubo, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2019. The youngster was labeled "the Japanese Messi" when he was only 18 years old. After excelling during preseason, he was loaned out to Real Mallorca, where he eventually won a starting spot under Vicente Moreno. Kubo not only became a starter, but he also became one of Mallorca's most important offensive threats, as well as one of the best shot creators in La Liga, both off the dribble and via eye of the needle passes.
Kubo was coveted by some of Europe's greatest teams after his spectacular season, even if only on a loan basis. Bayern Munich, Sevilla, Ajax, Villarreal, Osasuna, Granada, and other Bundesliga teams were among those that came calling. Take Kubo ultimately chose to stay in La Liga but move up to Unai Emery's new Villarreal project. Kubo was compared to a young David Silva by Unai Emery, but he believed he needed to make a stronger influence in games and deliver "end product." Emery wanted Kubo to make solid judgments in the final third of the field, whether it was on the final pass or the final shot. When Kubo's performance began to deteriorate,
Emery limited his minutes in favor of a young home-grown prospect, Yeremy. Instead of staying and fighting for his place and developing under Unai Emery, Kubo felt he had to play and left for Jose Bordalas’s Getafe in the winter. It was another mix spell at Getafe with few stand-out performances.
So in the summer of 2021 a decision was made to go out on loan for a fourth time. A return to Real Mallorca, but under new coach Luis Garcia Plaza. Injury and Mallorca’s up and down form limited Kubo’s impact. It was a poor season for such a talented player with his best games being counted on one hand.
According to a report from Diario AS, Real Madrid are open to another loan spell, but would also evaluate an offer to sell the Japanese playmaker if it were in the €20-30 million range. In Matt’s Monday Musings, the argument was made to sell Kubo, for a reduced cost, in order to retain a buy-back option if he does eventually blossom into the player many projected.
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