Inui pursues the Japanese LaLiga dream

For a country like Japan which officially launched its professional league in 1993, the European leagues have always been dream destinations for players. Among them, Spain’s LaLiga is overwhelmingly popular. The Liga BBVA is considered the pinnacle of world football and holds a position of real strength in this corner of the Asian continent.

The attentions of the Japanese press generally focus on the countries where Japanese players are present, such as Germany, Italy and England, but clubs like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, although they feature no players from our country, take even greater precedence.

Wanting the impossible makes sense too. Seven Japanese players have joined LaLiga, but does anyone remember their names? Most people only remember them as “that Japanese player who played for...” However, this does not stop footballers from the other side of the globe dreaming wildly about the challenge of the competition. And that is because it really is their dream: to try and make a success of it in the best league in the world.

One Japanese player who has arrived in recent months intent on triumphing in LaLiga is Takashi Inui, the SD Eibar midfielder. It is worth noting that the player moved to Germany in 2011, enjoying a spell at VfL Bochum before spending three years at Eintracht Frankfurt. However, when he received the invitation from Eibar, he did not hesitate for a second. It was his ticket to fulfilling his Spanish dream, and he is living it today.

The midfielder has played in 15 games and scored two goals. His name now rings out in the stands of great sporting venues and he has enamoured supporters and adversaries alike with his skill on the ball and his courage. This is destined to be his year and everyone back home is following him, watching him skip down the left flank showing off his skills, as he seeks to become the first “Japanese player who triumphed in LaLiga.”