Take Kubo: “I’ll do my talking out on the pitch”
The Japanese player spoke to the media about his ambitions on his first day as a Real Sociedad player. He will wear the number 14 shirt.
After posing for the media at Miramar Palace, with the impressive Concha Bay in the background, Take Kubo took a seat in the Reale Arena press room to offer his first impressions as a Real Sociedad player. The Japanese midfielder signed a deal from Real Madrid that will keep him in San Sebastián until 2027. He will wear the number 14 shirt with his first name, Take. He was received by club president Jokin Aperribay, who gave him a warm welcome: “You are still a very young player and you have come to a very young team. That means that you have a great future ahead of you, hopefully enough to win the Europa League this year. We know the quality you have, how you are as a person, we are sure that you will be very successful here. We have been trying to sign you for a long time - three years ago, when [Martin] Ødegaard left, we wanted to bring you here, but you already had a deal with Villarreal; last year, you wanted a transfer and this year none of us had any doubt that you were going to come here and that it would be the best move for your future,” Aperribay began.
Then, it was Take’s turn to answer questions from the media.
What made you choose Real Sociedad? “Firstly because it is the most suitable for my style as a footballer, and then the enthusiasm and interest they showed me. They were the first club to show an interest. I was on vacation and after coming back, I was told that La Real were interested in me. I actually already knew, and I liked the idea - and here I am”.
Ambitions. “Watching the team from the outside over the past few years, you can see it is a very young team, with a lot of ambition and desire, and I am happy to be part of it. The challenge for me, is that last season I saw two Japanese players win the Europa League, and since we have the opportunity to do that here at La Real, why not go for it?”
Which position do you prefer? “I think that in the positions where I usually play, it is one of the most competitive in this team. From the outset I see myself on the right wing, but I can play inside, wherever the coach asks me to. I haven’t been able to talk to the coach yet, I have no idea, but I see myself playing more on the right. I’m already looking forward to training with the team and starting to feel better because I’ve been sick during the past few days”.
A chance to finally establish yourself in a team. “I hope so, for example last year I started very well, but then I had an injury which set me back. I don’t expect anyone to speak well of me, I do my talking out on the field and depending on what I do, you can say one thing or another about me”.
Leaving Real Madrid definitively. “There are good sides and and bad sides to going out on loan - the bad part is that even if you do well, people still think you’re on loan; so now, signing for this club makes me feel much calmer and I hope to do very well here”.
Pressure from the media. “At 21 years old, I don’t see myself as young anymore, I’ve been playing since I was 16. And I play soccer because I like it and all these things about the pressure from social media and the newspapers, I don’t like it. I like to watch soccer matches, and I don’t like to look at all that, so I’m fine with it.”
Hopes and dreams. “Right now, the chance to play in a strong team and with good players, and on top of that, suited to my style... you can’t ask for more than that, can’t you?”
Leaving Real Madrid for Real Sociedad. “In fact, I have three friends who are following this press conference right now and they are fans of David Silva. They told me that they wanted to come to San Sebastián, that the sea looks fantastic and that it looks like a spectacular city”.
The opportunity you needed to show the player you are. “Yes, I think you can look at it that way, I’ve come to do that.”
New team mates. “I can name many of my new team mates, players like Zubimendi - I had a hard time playing against him at the Olympic Games, I would love to meet all of them now and become friends with them and hopefully they will welcome me with open arms”.
Competition for a place. “If you look around the world, there isn’t a single team that doesn’t have competition, I haven’t seen any player that doesn’t want competition, which is the best thing for everyone to play and progress in football.”
What do you do when you’re not playing football? “I like to watch football matches, I like to talk a lot, but when there are cameras about I control myself a bit, but I like to talk a lot.”