Takuhiro Nakai joined the youth academy of Real Madrid, Spain's prestigious football club, at the age of 10. While he has drawn attention as a rare talent, including selection for Japan's youth national teams, in recent years he has struggled for playing time, and this season he also experienced a loan move to another club. He battles on day after day to win out in fierce competition. Now that he turned 20 in 2023, what does he have his sights on?

As an inside midfielder or “interior,” his job as playmaker is to create scoring chances while also making decisions in front of the goal. When his team doesn’t have the ball, he has to try to steal it while making sure he isn’t too far away from his teammates. Nakai’s position is highly celebrated, but it is also demanding because he must sprint back and forth to help both the offense and the defense. Nakai says that he wants to be a player who captivates the audience, but he also understands that this alone is not enough. Even as he is pushed back by walls that seem far too high, his sights are fixed on the pinnacle of world football.

――The 2023-24 season has reached its midpoint. Looking back on it so far, please tell us where you’ve grown and what you see as challenges.

I have better posture when I play now. I’ve been training with Tetsuo Nakanishi, a former J.Leaguer who now also works as a commentator, and he coached me intensively on my posture during play. If your neck is in a bad position, you tire more easily and your performance deteriorates. Since I was able to correct that, the quality of my play has gone up and I’ve had fewer injuries. I can start moving quicker now, and I can breathe better. What I’m having trouble with is scoring. I want to take good shots without tensing up, but I tense up in front of the goal. And if I can’t fix that, I’m not going to succeed in La Liga (the Spanish league). I’m going to go back to basics and keep practicing my shooting in front of the goal.

――You’ve been playing in Spain for a long time. Are there any players who have particularly impressed you?

Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos. They’re world-class players everyone knows, and right now they play the same position as me. They’re the ideal players I want to model. The accuracy of their passing, the way they cushion the ball, the precision of their shooting, their movement off the ball, their tremendous work rate. They’re world class in every respect. I’m also watching England national Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid this year, he’s amazing too. He’s scoring in almost every match and is already at the heart of the team. He’s the same age as me, so he really inspires me. I want to become a captivating player like him.

――Are there any Japanese players you’re watching closely?

It has to be Takefusa Kubo. He went to Spain before I did, and he’s a first-class player who is producing real results. We catch up now and then, and I always watch the games he plays in. Our positions are different, but I want to learn from his finishing and shooting accuracy.

――Do you notice differences between Japanese and Spanish football culture?

I came to Spain when I was 10, so actually I don’t know much about Japanese football. But I think the environment for playing football is better in Spain. There are lots of training grounds with natural grass and training equipment, where kids can play soccer from a young age. Also for kids around 10 years old, in Japan they have them play 8-a-side but in Spain it’s 11-a-side. Physical development plays a big role at that age so there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I think being able to play 11-a-side from a young age instills tactical understanding.

――Has life in Spain taught you things beyond football?

Language, above all. It was hard at first, but the people in Spain are very kind, and everyone helped me. I feel blessed to have the people around me. And then there’s the importance of the siesta (a midday break or nap). You need to get proper rest to develop your body and recover, and it helps you keep your body in good condition. When there’s a match or practice in the afternoon, a siesta helps me perform better. It’s become an essential part of my life.

――What does football mean to you?

It’s simply a sport I love. You want to eat your favorite food every day, right? It’s the same thing: because it’s a sport I love, I want to play it every day, and I never get tired of it. I can keep playing because I love it. It’s as simple as that. I don’t really watch other sports, so I can’t say, but football has many different types of players. Fast sprinters, technical wizards, accurate passers, physically dominant defenders… When players like that come together, the course of a game can change completely in just a few minutes, and that’s what makes matches exciting. I think that’s the appeal of football.

――Please tell us about your goals going forward.

First, I need to get to La Liga’s top flight. I’m not satisfied with my performance, and it’s difficult to make an impact right away, but I know I’m getting better. I have to make sure I don’t let any chances slip away. And eventually, I want to succeed in the UCL (UEFA Champions League). Of course I also want to play in the World Cup, but as long as I’m at a wonderful club like Real Madrid, I have a strong desire to succeed in the UCL, the highest level of competition in the world.

――What do you think it will take to win a regular spot at a club like Real Madrid?

Continuing with my daily practice. I think it’s important to keep building up on the things that may look the same every day, like training, practice, and taking care of my body. I think my strength is my first touch (first control), and I’m confident it will hold up even in the first division. I want to make use of my strengths while overcoming my weaknesses.

“I love football, so I keep playing.” That genuine feeling came through in his words. His performances this season are still far from satisfying to him, but he knows he’s getting better. All that’s left is for him to seize his chance. Nakai is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the stars on the world’s grandest stage.

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Kodai Wada
EDIT: Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
PHOTO: Taijun Hiramoto