BARCELONA are itching to sign wonderkid Jun Nishikawa next month – as they are tortured by losing ‘Japanese Messi’ Takefusa Kubo to Real Madrid.
That’s the claim from Spain, where Barca wince at the staggering progress of Nishikawa’s fellow countryman and ex-Nou Camp trainee Kubo, 18.
Barcelona are favourites to sign Jun Nishikawa, a huge hit for Japan at the Under-17 World Cup in BrazilCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Real Madrid starlet Takefusa Kubo is now on loan with Mallorca, after Barcelona let the teen prodigy slip from their graspCredit: Getty – Contributor
Japan Under-20 attacking midfielder Nishikawa can join a European club from J-League club Cerezo Osaka once he turns 18 on February 21.
And Barcelona are hot favourites to land the teenager, who shone at the recent Under-17 World Cup with two goals and four assists from four games.
Football Espana say Nishikawa was recommended to Barca by former Villarreal and Real Sociedad manager Miguel Ángel Lotina, a Spaniard who has coached him.
And Barcelona are thought to have tracked him since last summer.
They are especially anxious not to let arguably the hottest prospect in Japan’s top flight escape their grips like playmaker Kubo, who is now thriving on loan from Real at La Liga strugglers Mallorca.
Even Bernabeu superstars like Eden Hazard have been awed by Kubo’s development since he joined the senior squad on tour over the summer.
Yet five years ago he looked far more likely to continue upwards at biggest rivals Barca.
But in 2014 Barcelona were banned from signing players for two transfer windows after breaking rules on recruiting under-age players.
And Kubo was one of the kids they had to send away.
Barca monitored him back in in Japan but, in the end, Real won the fight for his signature by promising he would be in their main squad within two seasons.
Now Kubo is impressing both his parent club and Mallorca.
And instead Barca want to stay first in line for Nishikawa next month.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
