According to Sport, Barcelona have moved one step closer in the pursuit of Hiroki Abe. The Kashima Antlers star has said goodbye to his teammates ahead of a switch to Barcelona’s B team, managed by Garcia Pimienta. The report claims that the Catalans have agreed terms with the club and have been given the green light to sign the talented winger, who is touted as the next big thing in Japanese football.
Abe’s success in the Japanese League
Abe has been a part of the Kashima Antlers’ first-team since the start of 2017. Despite featuring in just 271 minutes in his debut season at the club, the youngster became a vital part of the Antlers attack the following campaign, when he made 22 appearances scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Abe has featured in nearly all of the matches in the ongoing 2019 campaign, featuring in 14 games, during which he was involved in two goals. Although the 20-year-old’s productivity may seem below par for an attacker who is about to join Barcelona’s youth team, his overall influence has been far more significant, having helped Kashima maintain a fourth-placed status in the league.
What can Abe bring to the table?
Despite being labelled as a wide midfielder, Abe loves to get into central areas of the pitch and instigate scoring opportunities for his side. He has excellent control over the ball, which, coupled with his swift feet, allows him to drift his way past defenders.
The young attacker is also blessed with a brilliant vision that enables him to find key passes in the final third. But, what makes him such a dangerous attacker is his tenacity and willingness to test the opposing defences with his mazy runs into the heart of the backline.
Is Abe a perfect answer to Real Madrid’s Takefusa Kubo?
Real Madrid made waves in the market by signing Japanese sensation and former Barcelona youth player Takefusa Kubo. The 18-year-old is extremely talented and is tipped to become a key part of the Madrid attack in the coming years.
Abe, in that regard, might be a decent enough response from Barcelona. The Antlers attacker has showcased his talents in the J1 League and is much more experienced when compared to Kubo, having already featured in 79 matches for his club across all competitions.
He will be a stunning addition to the Barcelona youth setup that has produced a lot of talented players in recent years including Riqui Puig, Carles Alena and Abel Ruiz among many others. Abe, to that end, could well become the next player to make his breakthrough from the Barcelona B side.
