Real Mallorca will complete the signing of Takefusa Kubo on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid, according to reports.
El Mundo Deportivo cite a report from La Sexta that the Japanese midfielder has decided to join the newly-promoted club ahead of a move to Real Valladolid, which has previously been reported.
Madrid believe that Kubo is ready to play top-flight football as opposed to spending time in their club’s Castilla team.
The attack-minded player spent four years in the Blaugrana’s La Masia youth academy but had to leave the club in 2015 when Barcelona were sanctioned for signing underage players illegally.
Kubo, who has been nicknamed ‘the Japanese Messi’, then signed for FC Tokyo but he celebrated his 18th birthday earlier this month and was subsequently available to return to European football – with Madrid pouncing.
The Japan Under-20 international was said to have caught the attention of sporting directors of ‘Europe’s biggest clubs’, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Kubo netted six goals across 30 appearances for former club FC Tokyo and has impressed in pre-season performances for Madrid.
