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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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Coach Hajime Moriyasu gave too much of a requirement to the prospect. It was a demand to become the best defender in the world.
Japan's Soccer Digest Web reported on the 26th (Korea time) 'Moriyasu delivered above-standard expectations to Kota Takai, who is in the spotlight of Tottenham'
European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported Tottenham's recruitment of Dakai. Romano says Tottenham will recruit center back Takai, who was born in 2004. The transfer fee is 5 million pounds (about 9 billion won). This is the highest transfer fee for any Japanese player in J-League history. This was also recognized by influential media, including the BBC, a British public broadcaster.
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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It was a surprising choice. Takai is a promising defender who is scheduled to turn 21 in September this year, and is over 190 centimeters tall, solid physical and has the right to provide. He also has good pass ability, contributing to a large part of the build-up, and has a wide range of abilities that promising defenders should have, such as forward dribbling. Takai, who has already accumulated considerable experience as a professional in his fourth year, has grown since his professional debut at Kawasaki Frontale in 2022. Since September last year, he has also joined the Japanese national team.
He also showed his outstanding competitiveness in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE). Takai's team Kawasaki, which advanced to the ACLE semifinals in the 2024-2025 season, faced Alnasr, where Cristiano Ronaldo played. In the match, Takai contributed to his team's 3-2 victory by blocking Ronaldo and other Alnasr players well.
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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However, Moriyasu's dream was even bigger. Takai wanted to become the best defender in the world. According to Soccer Digest Web, Moriyasu recently visited a J-League game and was asked about Takai. "I rarely went directly to the English Premier League," he said. "Dakai is a player who can challenge himself. I hope he plays often. Tottenham also won the championship because it is a team that has a history. I hope you contribute to the team by competing for the European Champions League title. I want to go beyond Virgil van Dijk."
However, it is unclear whether Takai will be able to grow into a Pandike-level player as Moriyasu expected. Tottenham has four key center backs already verified on the European stage, including vice-captain Christian Romero, Mickey van der Pen, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin, so it is not clear whether they will play in the next season. It is expected to be a difficult journey from adaptation.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview, Moriyasu was confident that the Japanese national team would win the World Cup. "There are differences with the world's top teams, but I think it is a feasible goal if the Japanese national team fights with the ability, growth, and organizational power to save individuals. I will prepare for the World Cup with the goal of becoming the best in the world," he said, expressing his ambition.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
