Takefusa Kubo is with the Japan team at the Copa AmericaReal Madrid have signed Japanese striker Takefusa Kubo, with the Spanish club hailing the 18-year-old as "one of the most promising youngsters in world football". Kubo, who made his Japan debut against El Salvador earlier this month, impressed for table-topping J League side FC Tokyo. Kubo's arrival in Madrid will not be his first taste of Spanish football, having joined Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy aged nine. Kubo has been dubbed the 'Japanese Messi'Nicknamed the 'Japanese Messi', Kubo was earmarked for a future at the Nou Camp but returned to Japan after Barcelona were found guilty of youth transfer breaches and handed a 14-month transfer ban by FIFA. Real Madrid, under returning boss Zinedine Zidane, are making sweeping changes following a disappointing, trophyless campaign last season.

Source: Sky sports June 14, 2019 14:03 UTC