Real Sociedad playmaker Takefusa Kubo is one of the most talented footballers in LaLiga. He has blossomed ever since stepping foot at the Anoeta after Real Madrid let him go, seeing that he wouldn’t get the playing time he needed or the security he needed without a permanent move away.
While Real Madrid retain the right to sign Kubo back at any time, that ship has sailed, with Los Blancos crowded in the playmaker department after Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz performed so well for the club last season.
In truth, Guler and Brahim are better players than Kubo, offering a goal threat and level of consistency that Kubo still hasn’t quite reached even at La Real – and will probably never reach.
This season, Kubo has appeared in five games for Real Sociedad. He has scored once but has not recorded any assists, nor is he averaging a key pass per game. If you take out his 2.8 fouls drawn per match, Kubo has been a serious disappointment.
Real Sociedad lost on Saturday night in their own stadium to Real Madrid, and although both goals were penalties, La Real were lucky not to have lost by five, such is the manner in which they were dominated by Real Madrid with just two shots on target of their own.
After the game, Kubo could only complain about the referees, stating, “I am really pissed off. I need an explanation for the second penalty,” when the foul was clearly a penalty with the top of Vinicius Junior’s foot visibly stomped on by a Real Sociedad defender.
Notably, before the game, Kubo made a comment about Real Madrid’s front three of Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe underperforming because they all have the same preference of wanting to play on the left wing.
Kubo may have been right to some extent, but the reality is that all three players have more goals and assists than Kubo this season and have always played at a much, much higher level than him.
Because Kubo never actually performed for Real Madrid, it’s disrespectful of him to make excuses about a club that he was a part of, because he has no credibility to say anything but encouraging words about Mbappe, Rodrygo, or Vinicius.
Furthermore, complaining about calls that are clear after a game in which your team was visibly outclassed is never a good look, especially when 1) that is a former of club of yours and 2) you haven’t been playing well yourself.
Kubo is an excellent player who is just 23 years old and has so much ahead of him. The problem is he needs to learn when to focus on his own performances and how to let his play do the talking instead of giving up possession frequently then complaining about the refs after.
Real Sociedad need him to step up more as a leader.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.