Takefusa Kubo was signed by Real Madrid in 2019, and these were some signs of big things to come for the young Japanese. Things didn’t go the way he wanted them to, as the player was loaned out to three different clubs before Real Sociedad came to sign him in 2022. Spells in LaLiga with Villareal, Getafe, and Mallorca showed that Kubo had promise and was one of the upcoming talents.
Real Sociedad finished in the top four last season and are set to play in the UEFA Champions League. This youngster played a crucial role in their recent success and has started the 2023–24 season with some match-winning performances. He is just 22 and is getting recognition in this fast-growing football world. Here is a look at how Kubo is bringing his A-game to the club.
Wizard on the right wing
Takefusa Kubo is a natural left-footed right-winger. His performances in 2022–23 and in the current season have made him a regular starter on Sociedad’s team. The 22-year-old has started the first four LaLiga matches for his club and has made an impact.
The above graph shows the progressive runs made by him in the current season, along with the successful and unsuccessful dribbles. The dribble success rate is 70% for the youngster, and this ranks him as one of the top dribblers in the current campaign.
The end product
The team demands their forward score regular goals and lead them to victory. Scoring on a regular basis is one of the biggest challenges for every player. Last season, the youngster chipped in with nine goals in 35 LaLiga appearances.
The above visual shows 72 shot attempts made in 2022–23. Kubo had a 41.7% accuracy rate, with most shots targeting the centre or the left side of the goalkeeper.
This season, the youngster has already scored three goals. He scored a brace against Granada before the September international break. Takefusa Kubo has opened his body to attempt shots from the right side. His three shots on target have found the back of the net.
Creativity
A decent passer of the ball, Kubo already has an assist to his name. He likes to stretch the defence and deliver crosses and passes into the opposition penalty box. The shot assist visual shows that the player has presented three glorious opportunities for his teammates this season, and one chance has been converted.
Last season, the 22-year-old attempted short passes and created a few cutback opportunities for his teammates. He has shown more composure this season and attempted to create more threat-creating opportunities. This is what the manager will expect him to do in the upcoming games and the Champions League.
With 133 LaLiga games under his belt, Kubo is becoming a star in Spain. This season, he will play for the first time in the UCL. He has the chance to showcase his talent on the biggest stage of them all.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
