Kubo y Sato, La Liga’s Samurai, meet as rivals at Mestalla | OneFootball

Kubo y Sato, La Liga’s Samurai, meet as rivals at Mestalla, the only Japanese players in La Liga. Their paths, from FC Tokyo to Japan’s senior side, have intertwined despite a five-year gap.

AS notes that Shoji Jo’s Real Valladolid debut on 16 January 2000 made him the first of 15 Japanese to feature in Primera. Today, the mantle rests with Kubo and Sato.

Kubo has set the standard in Spain with 224 La Liga games, 29 goals and 22 assists. A La Masia graduate, he is also the only Japanese to win a trophy in Spain, the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad. Sato has described him as an idol, and Kubo welcomed his Valencia arrival with a video.

Both came via FC Tokyo and each scored six goals there. Kubo, captain and mentor for Japan, made way for Sato’s senior debut on 61 minutes against Indonesia, a 6-0 win. Sato became the youngest Japanese to debut in a World Cup qualifier at 18 years and 237 days, while Kubo remains the youngest overall at 18 years and five days.

They have shared only five senior camps, and will link up again afterwards for friendlies against Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador.

This will be their first club meeting, and neither is likely to start. Kubo has not been at his sharpest, while Sato was unused against Alavés amid a change on the bench. Two Japanese outlets are accredited for Mestalla, with the match live in Japan at four am Monday.

Source: AS

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