Official: Real Madrid wonderkid Takefusa Kubo completes RCD Mallorca loan move

Takefusa Kubo has made a temporary move away from Real Madrid, joining fellow La Liga club RCD Mallorca on a season-long loan deal.

Real Madrid have made an official statement to confirm that Takefusa Kubo will spend the remainder of the 2019-20 season away from the club. Fellow La Liga outfit Real Mallorca have signed the Japanese international from Los Blancos on a season-long loan deal.

Kubo was infamously a casualty when Barcelona were sanctioned in 2015 due to irregularities in their signing of underage players. Little did the La Liga champions know back then that there loss would eventually go on to be bitter rivals Real Madrid’s gain a few years later.

?? 久保選手がマジョルカの一員になりました ??

✍? Acuerdo con el @realmadrid para la cesión de Takefusa Kubo https://t.co/42Yx6uenlC #meKubo #JuntsSomMillors pic.twitter.com/kuVsD156Nz

— RCD Mallorca (@RCD_Mallorca) August 22, 2019

Over the last four years, Kubo progressed greatly in his homeland and has also been given the moniker the ‘Japanese Messi’. Still only 18, the player already has 36 senior appearances at club level while also becoming a full fledged Japanese international this year.

Back to his return to Europe, upon turning 18, Kubo had become eligible to signed by a club from the continent and Real Madrid pounced, beating a number of clubs, including Barcelona to secure his services.

However, with Los Blancos‘ three non-EU spots already taken up by Eder Militao, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes, it was clear that Kubo was going to initially spend his time with Real Madrid Castilla before being promoted to the first-team setup, like Vinicius successfully did last season.

But, in recent days, Real Madrid seemed to want to send Kubo out on loan to gain precious La Liga experience, with Real Valladolid and RCD Mallorca emerging as possible suitors. And, Los Bermellones have now prevailed in the race to sign the Japanese wonderkid for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Largely playing in a 4-4-2 formation under Vicente Moreno, Mallorca were in need of natural options to play upfront, with Lago Junior, who is predominantly a left winger, starting in the strike partnership against Eibar.

Kubo, who has previously been deployed as a second striker plenty of times, is naturally adept to play in the position and can also be used on the right side of the midfield four. And, having impressed for Real Madrid during their pre-season tours of USA and Germany, the 18-year-old will now hope he can gain secure valuable top-flight experience with Mallorca.

Kubo is now set to become the third Japanese player to represent RCD Mallorca after after Yoshito Okubo and Akihito Ienaga. It remains to be seen if the loan move to the newly promoted La Liga club works, with Real Madrid keen to see the Japanese international develop this season.