Tactical Insights

How Takefusa Kubo almost stopped Barcelona signing Luis Suarez from Liverpool


Takefusa Kubo continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool after impressing for Real Sociedad last season. The 23-year-old winger has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as Arne Slot looks to strengthen his frontline.

Kubo, who sees his contract at the Reale Arena expire in June 2029, featured 30 times for Real Sociedad in La Liga last season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists. That impressive return was enough to help Imanol Alguacil’s side secure Europa League qualification.




Earlier this week, Japanese outlet Sponichi claimed that the Reds were closing in on the signing of Kubo. However, the ECHO understands that such talk is somewhat premature and, as things stand, there’s no suggestion the forward is on the brink of becoming a Liverpool player.

But Kubo already has a little bit of history with the Reds. In August 2011, he left Kawasaki Frontale to join Barcelona at the age of just 10. He would go on to spend four years at the club’s academy, La Masia, before returning to Japan in 2016 to sign for FC Tokyo under-18s.

After bursting onto the scene as one of the most exciting young players in the world, FIFA issued the Catalan side with a transfer ban in 2014 after it ruled that Barcelona breached transfer and registration rules regarding the signing of international players who are under the age of 18.

The Catalan side were given a 14-month ban after wrongfully registering 10 minors between 2009 and 2013, according to GiveMeSport. During this period, the La Liga outfit were working on a deal to sign Suarez from Liverpool.

Barcelona lodged an appeal, and the ban was delayed by 12 months, meaning they could wrap up a deal for the Reds icon, who moved to the Camp Nou in a deal worth £75m in July 2014. Despite never making his senior debut for the Catalan side, Kubo was booed by the club’s supporters back in December 2019.



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