Borussia have signed Japan international Ko Itakura from English champions @ManCity. The 25-year-old defender has penned a contract with the Foals until 30th June 2026 ✍️🔗 https://t.co/zQe37xIj06#DieFohlen pic.twitter.com/rZoPy4niBk— Gladbach (@borussia_en) July 2, 2022
Thought Id just mention Ko Itakura got a random assist as well heading the ball back in for another player to overhead kick it
I know its early in the season. But he is ranked sixth in the league as the best player in all positions. By kicker. His fantastic form from last season continues. He is the real deal. This is his game against Schalke
TBH at this point he and Tomi should be the starting CBs at WC. I know there is an argument for Yoshida's experience, but should pick the best/inform players. But we know Moriyasu enough....
Neapel goes into negations for Itakura, cause Kim leaves for Bayern. Would be a huge transfer. Neapel is really really interested in him for months and their manager/director says he likes Itakura a lot. So its no bench warming/back up stuff. They want him for a starter role. I prefer him to stay at Gladbach but Serie A and Neapel would fit Ko very well I think. So maybe a try?
This is a risky gambit. Napoli's manager and sport director are gone. Both cut off by Napoli's moody president. Not only Kim but probably Osimhen and Kvara will all go to a top club somewhere else. And these 3, all discovered and chosen by the former sport director, will be very difficult to be replaced especially by a brand new manager. As Kim was beloved by Napoli's fans, if Ko will fall into a complicated season, he will be easly targeted as the scapegoat (especially as CB). I wish him good luck, he will need it.
I dont know if i like this deal. For many reasons. Replacing Kim is a hard task. Kim is a monster. I dont think Ko is close to him. Even though huge potential. And if not replacing Kim is what they want there are 3 other really good cbs there.
I think Itakura is close to Kim, maybe not super close but on the right way. Nobody is excpecting him to be as good as Kim. Its enough to be as good as he is for now (which is a high standard) and maybe get even further. And to be fair nobody excpected Kim after his first Neapel season to be that good. Why not the same for Itakura? And he is planed as a starter, of course the rest is up to him. When he realy joined he is the Nr. 1-2 CB together with Rahmani.
KMJ was one of the best CBs (Some even say is the best) in Serie A last season. Topping him would be hard. Not sure if Itakura is able to be a starter straight away, then again with quite a few players leaving. Seems like it will not be that competitive for the starter spots, taking into account they are playing a lot of competitions next season (Coppa Italia/CL/Series A, etc.)
Kim was the best CB in the Serie A, he won this award after season. But like I said, was anyone excpecting that before ? No, so why should Itakura dont do the same? But like I said, nobody excpect him to top Kim or be as good as him in Neapel. Its okay to be lower and be as good as he is, which is enough. And maybe improve. Neapel has 3 CBS now without Kim and only Rahmani is a partner/competetor. The other 2 are not even real competition. Only a look on their marked value is enough to say that when you see Ko Itakuras Value. For example they are worth 7 Mio and 3,5 Mio and Ko is at 12 Mio. He is more worth then both together. And when Neapel buy Itakura for 17-20 Mio which it looks like they pay the same or more for Ko then for Kim. No way he will not bought as a starter. The rest is up to him. Last season Itakura was one of the best CBs of the Bundesliga after the half season (after WC) , he gets the award as the 6th best CB. And for me that means its possible that he can swim in the same pool like Kim, maybe some meters behind.