Real Madrid: One thing Takefusa Kubo must do before the hype can begin

Real Madrid attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo enjoyed a successful season with Mallorca on loan, but there’s one thing that needs to happen before the hype train can leave the station.

In Martin Odegaard, Oscar Rodriguez, Reinier Jesus, and Takefusa Kubo, Real Madrid have a quartet of talented young attacking midfielders who showed a great deal of promise in 2019-2020. It’s unclear if any of them will be a part of the first team next season, but all four of them have shown they are ready for even more responsibilities.

Kubo joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2019 as a free transfer, having once been an FC Barcelona prospect. The 18-year-old has all the tools to be one of the best attacking midfielders in La Liga, and he was already Mallorca’s most impressive player when given a chance to start for the relegation side last season.

In 1,431 minutes (13 starts, 11 off the bench), Kubo scored three goals and two assists, including crucial goal involvements near the end of matches. He was willing to take defenders on and create goals from nothing, as he is capable of scoring solo efforts that make highlight reels.

The Japan international was tricky on the ball, too, winning 1.9 fouls per game and 1.4 dribbles per game, according to WhoScored.com.

But before Kubo can blossom into a key player, he needs to develop consistency. All the traits are there, but Kubo is still missing the passing accuracy to be a true difference-maker as an attacking midfielder.

Last season, Kubo completed less than 70 percent of his passes and only averaged 0.8 key passes per game. Those are understandable numbers for an 18-year-old player who is still developing, but those numbers are reminders that while Kubo has the tools, he has a long way to go.

Patience is key with any young player, but especially someone like Kubo, who can mature into a top-notch No. 10 in La Liga. In 2019-2020, Kubo played as often on the right as he did in the center and even showed versatility with appearances on the left or at a more advanced position as a forward.

Kubo’s versatility, dribbling skills, and eye for goal are worth praising highly. He has a world of potential and could become a key player for Real Madrid in a handful of years.

But we’re talking more about potential that will be reached in five years vs. two. While Kubo is developing quickly and was already a good player for Mallorca last season, consistency is needed. With patience and experience, the results will follow. Kubo is absolutely a player Madridistas should be keeping in mind frequently.