Man United set to sign £43m ‘immense’ Antony upgrade who iniesta and Zidane called world class

Man United set to sign £43m ‘immense’ Antony upgrade who iniesta and Zidane called world class

Iniesta and Zidane are big fans of £43m star Manchester United could sign

When we’re talking about a teenager with the praise of Andres Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane ringing in his ears, it’s probably a safe bet that this is a player with real potential.

Takefusa Kubo, the latest winger linked with a Manchester United side expected to bid farewell to Jadon Sancho in January, is certainly well on his way to fulfilling that ‘potential’ on Spanish soil.

According to The Sun, Manchester United have scouted the Japan international on no fewer than seven occasions this season alone.

La Liga’s Player of the Month for November, a bid of £43 million is expected to be enough to twist Real Sociedad’s arm, a player valued at half the fee United paid to sign Antony from Ajax possessing arguably double the ability.

Kubo was likened to David Silva by Unai Emery during their time together at Villarreal. And, after sharing a dressing room with the Man City legend at Sociedad last term, Kubo is starting to produce the sort of performances reminiscent of Silva’s at Valencia.

Manchester United eye Takefusa Kubo
“He was superb,” Terry Gibson, the former United forward, told El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast after Kubo tore Real Madrid limb from limb at the start of the campaign.

“As good as Jude Bellingham has been this year, I think Take Kubo has been on (his) level in every game he’s played.”

Some praise. But such glowing assessments are nothing new as far as Kubo is concerned.

“We’re talking about a player with immense talent and a great future ahead of him,” Barcelona icon Andres Iniesta told AS all the way back in 2019, a teenage Kubo breaking all sorts of records in La Masia before a transfer ban forced Barca to let him go.

“He is one of the most gifted players in the world right now.”

Kubo returned to Spain in 2019 – joining Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid – and caught the eye of Zinedine Zidane during a stellar loan spell at Mallorca.

“I think he’s having a good season,” Real Madrid boss Zidane said (One Football). “He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future.”

Following in Martin Odegaard’s footsteps
Still only 22, Kubo – like another former Madrid starlet who blossomed at Sociedad in Martin Odegaard – is coming on leaps and bounds in San Sebastian, cutting in from the right to devastating effect.

While Antony is yet to find the net even once or provide assist in 2023/24, Kubo is already in double figures for ‘goal contributions’.

Antony retains Erik ten Hag’s backing for the time being. But with the Brazilian flattering to deceive – and with Jadon Sancho almost certain to depart – United are likely to be in the market for a right-winger yet again when 2023 turns to 2024.

And if Kubo is the man United decide upon, he will arrive at Old Trafford with the backing of Unai Emery, Andres Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane. Three men no one could accuse of being a bad judge of character