Osasuna in pole to land Real Madrid pearl Kubo
According to AS sources, Osasuna are the current favourites to secure a loan deal for Real Madrid's Japanese winger, Take Kubo, who is a main target for several LaLiga clubs.
Real Madrid youngster, Take Kubo, is set to be one of the main protagonists of the summer transfer market in Spain.
According to what AS has learned, a loan move to Osasuna is currently the most viable option for the sought-after 19-year-old. The other favourites in the battle to land Kubo, who spent the 2019-20 season at Mallorca after Madrid signed him last summer, are Real Betis and Granada, while Sevilla has been virtually ruled out at this point. Whichever club lands the exciting young winger, they will be expected to pay Madrid €5 million in any loan deal for the player.
Despite the interest of Ajax and Lazio, who are not giving up their pursuit, Kubo plans to remain in Spain and wants to rack up 40 games in 2020-21 after an impressive campaign with Mallorca, despite the club’s relegation from the top flight. The Japanese youngster is convinced that if he can return to Madrid having just turned 20 with 70 LaLiga games under his belt, he will be in line to become a prominent fixture at the Bernabéu.
In a bid to convince Madrid and the player himself, Osasuna has ensured that Kubo will be a leading figure at Los Rojillos’ revamped El Sadar stadium next season, during which the club celebrates its historic centenary. The involvement of coach Jagoba Arrasate and a new deal with Adidas, the same shirt maker that sponsors Madrid, also bode well for Osasuna’s hopes of landing the Japanese pearl.
Osasuna faces stiff competition for Real Madrid’s Kubo
However, Osasuna’s list of competitors is particularly long, with the majority of clubs from Spain’s top division interested in Kubo: Granada and Real Sociedad have made clear to the Bernabéu offices their firm intentions to sign him on loan, while Levante, Celta Vigo, the recently promoted Huesca, Betis and Sevilla are also hot on his heels.
Regarding the Sevillan derby battle for Kubo between Sevilla and Betis, sources close to the situation have told AS that the latter is a more viable possibility; however it will be crucial for Madrid to first know the plans of new coach Manuel Pellegrini. For Sevilla, the operation is more complicated, particularly because the Pizjuan outfit want, among other things, a two-year loan deal with the option to purchase – two conditions that Madrid has ruled out.
With summer exits pending at the Bernabéu, Madrid have decided to give themselves time to decide on Kubo’s short-term future. Though what has been made clear is that the player is not for permanent sale.
Kubo in quarantine in Tokyo after passing driving test in Madrid
And while his short-term future is being ironed out in Spain, Kubo has returned to Tokyo, where he is currently seeing out a 14-day quarantine period in line with the Japanese government’s travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Before heading home, the 19-year-old managed to secure his driver's license after passing the test in Madrid last Monday, July 20. The news means his mother, Tamiko, will no longer have to drive him to training once he returns to Spain for next season, wherever in the Iberain peninsula that may be.