Real Madrid: Takefusa Kubo is another breakout star to watch

Real Madrid attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo had some brilliant moments for Mallorca last season, but he could have a breakout 2020-2021 season with a better club.

If there’s one Real Madrid player who should be on everyone’s radar as a breakout superstar in 2020, then it’s undoubtedly Vinicius Junior. The young left winger was sensational in the second half of the 2019-2020 season while starting for an injured Eden Hazard, tirelessly taking defenders on and even scoring a crucial goal in the second Clasico.

But if you want a sleeper breakout candidate for the 2020-2021 season, then look no further than attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo.

Los Blancos are known for their talent in the attacking midfield. Isco is back in form after returning to health in the second half of the 2019-2020 season, Martin Odegaard was one of the best players in La Liga, and another loanee, Oscar Rodriguez, was scoring bangers all year long for Leganes.

So it’s easy to overlook Kubo, who had a comparatively quieter season than the other Real Madrid attacking midfielders either out on loan or in the first team. But Kubo, who signed with Real over FC Barcelona after being a long-term target of La Blaugrana’s, has as much potential as anybody.

An incredibly skillful player on the ball with jaw-dropping acceleration and agility, Kubo showed a real eye for goal while on loan at Mallorca. He was quite clearly the most talented player on the team, though Mallorca were frustratingly slow to give him starts at the beginning of the season. Kubo ended up with under 1,500 minutes played in 2019-2020.

But he made the most of those minutes. Kubo scored three goals with two assists in that time period, including some important solo goals that provided glimpses of future superstar ability. Only striker Ante Budimir averaged more goals and assists per 90 minutes on the team than Kubo, who would have posted a higher average if he were entrusted with being a regular part of the team earlier in the season.

Although he was only 18 years old, Kubo was more than ready for the spotlight in La Liga. The Japan international has all the tools to be one of the best No. 10’s in the league, and he could show remarkable growth in 2020-2021.

There’s talk that Odegaard could return to Real Madrid after only spending one of two years on loan at Real Sociedad, as Los Blancos could use the “free” upgrade right now. Beyond that, Odegaard was so impressive in 2019-2020 that he’s ready to play significant minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.

How does that impact Kubo? If Odegaard returns to Madrid, it’s possible Kubo will replace him at La Real. And if that happens, Kubo will have the keys to one of Spain’s most devastating attacks, as Sociedad have Mikel Oyarzabal, Portu, Alexander Isak, and more.

La Real showed a willingness to trust Odegaard to run the attack, and it paid off. While Kubo is younger and not of the same quality as a passer or presser as Odegaard, he has the potential to approach that level in time. A loan spell at Sociedad could do wonders for Kubo, who already has the skills and scoring ability to be a star there.

So don’t be surprised if Kubo becomes one of La Liga’s biggest breakout stars next season. He’s poised for a bigger club with more responsibilities in 2020-2021, and if Real Madrid can find the right situation for him, Kubo could shock plenty of people.