TAKUMI MINAMINO lived through the second biggest earthquake to hit Japan in the 20th century.
He was one day old when the Great Hanshin disaster claimed the lives of 6,434 people.
Minamino survived the second-biggest earthquake in Japan of the 20th centuryCredit: Reuters
Takumi Minamino is Liverpool’s new signing, dubbed ‘the Japanese Neymar’Credit: Reuters
Its epicentre was in Kobe, 50 miles across the Osaka Bay from the town of Izumisano, where Minamino was born on January 16, 1995.
More than 70,000 homes across the region were destroyed or left unsafe, with Izumisano needing to be rebuilt.
And it was on a new car park near Minamino’s home — which he shared with his mum, dad and brother — he started working on the skills that today see him make his Liverpool debut in a Merseyside derby.
When Minamino was seven, his hero was superstar Ronaldo.
Back in 2002, the legendary striker took the Golden Boot with his eight goals as Brazil lifted the World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
Inspired by what they saw on TV, Minamino and his brother, Kenta, would dart around cones their dad had laid out on the car park.
The idea was to copy the dribbling skills and speed that were such a big part of Ronaldo’s game.
Kenta never made it as a player but ten years later Takumi made his J.League debut for Cerezo Ozaka, where he soon earned the nickname the “Japanese Neymar”.
When he signed for Red Bull Salzburg in 2015, he was quick to play down such wild comparisons.
Minamino said: “Should I ever manage to get as good as him, then I would gladly accept this praise.”
TEAM-FIRST TAKUMI
The 24-year-old forward is tipped to become a huge success under boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
He should start against Carlo Ancelotti’s side as one of just 13 senior professionals available.
It may seem like a baptism of fire as the Japan international has only been training with the Reds for a few days after his £7.25million move from Salzburg.
Liverpool’s scouts had been tracking him for more than two years as they identified him as someone who would fit right into Klopp’s plans.
Takumi translates to “artisan, skilful, clever or humble” and former Japan boss Vahid Halilhodzic — who gave him his first cap in 2015 — said: “He can adapt to any pattern and not only does he create goals but he scores them.
“He loves working for others. He gives himself for others.”
Klopp has urged patience for his new signing, who has already played and scored at Anfield this season in Salzburg’s 4-3 Champions League defeat back in October.
The Kop boss said: “It’s important he settles and that we’ve signed the player he was at Salzburg, so at the moment he just has to be who he is.
“I told him, ‘We signed Minamino from Salzburg — the guy who played like crazy against us. Be like that and we will see how it develops’.
“We didn’t bring him in to accept he is sixth-choice but he can play many positions, which means options.
“It would be nice if everyone gives him a bit of time, though.”
Over 6,000 people died and 70,000 homes ruined by the 1995 earthquakeCredit: Reuters
Time is not on Klopp’s side, however, as he has eight on his casualty list ahead of the 235th Merseyside derby.
The blockbuster FA Cup tie is the Reds’ ELEVENTH game in a congested, crazy 33-day schedule.
After coming through the same Salzburg school that spawned Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, Klopp knows he has another star in the making who can fit in anywhere across midfield and attack.
Minamino cost a fraction of Neymar’s £198m fee when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in 2017.
And he may have started his journey to Liverpool via the local car park but Minamino has the chance to become a big name in his own right.
Meanwhile, the gloves will be off again today for goalkeeper Adrian as he prepares to heap more misery on Everton.
The Spaniard made his Merseyside derby debut in December’s 5-2 humiliation of the Toffees.
Five years ago he also scored the winner for West Ham against the Toffees, smashing home the winning penalty in the third-round replay shootout.
Adrian, who turned 33 on Friday, said: “That was a really special moment for me. A bit strange, a bit unusual.
“We keepers enjoy when we make penalty saves — but we don’t usually score penalties! Joel Robles missed his penalty and I was really confident.
“I took my gloves off like I was saying ‘I’ve finished my job in goal and now I am going to strike the penalty like an outfield player!’
“Maybe it started my relationship with Liverpool. We didn’t know it when it happened but look at me now, I am playing for Liverpool!”
Adrian, who is expected to deputise for No1 Alisson today, left the Hammers on a free last summer.
He added: “It is a great memory but I hope to get more and keep enjoying the FA Cup.”
Liverpool vs Everton FREE – Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and betting odds for FA Cup clash
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
