Pipi (footballer, born 2003)

Takuhiro Nakai (中井 卓大, Nakai Takuhiro, born 24 October 2003), known in Spain as Pipi, is a Japanese footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid Castilla.[1] He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2020".[2]

Pipi
Personal information
Full name Takuhiro Nakai
Date of birth (2003-10-24) 24 October 2003
Place of birth Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Real Madrid Castilla
Number 26
Youth career
2008–2014 Azul Shiga
2014– Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Real Madrid B 0 (0)
National team
2018 Japan U15
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:44, 6 November 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Pipi was born in Shiga, Japan, and was spotted by Spanish giants Real Madrid while playing in one of their training camps in China. He was invited for a trial in Spain and impressed enough to sign a contract in 2014.[3][4] Prior to his move to Spain, Pipi had been playing for Azul Shiga.[1] After Real Madrid were sanctioned heavily in 2016 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it was Nakai's mother who offered testimony which prevented Madrid from suffering further punishment. Her testimony also meant that her son would avoid punishment, as his move to Madrid had been under investigation by the CAS.[4][5]

In October 2020, Pipi was called up to train with the Real Madrid senior squad for the first time.[6][7][8] He is seen as one of Real Madrid's best prospects.[9][10]

International career

Pipi was called up for the Japan under-15 side in 2018.[11]

References
  1. "Nakai". realmadrid.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. "Real Madrid Sign 9-Year-Old Wonderkid Takuhiro Nakai; Watch 'Pipi' Play". Bleacher Report. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. "'Pipi' Nakai, el nuevo diamante del Madrid que comparte agente con Bale" ['Pipi' Nakai, Madrid's new diamond who shares an agent with Bale]. elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). 15 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  5. "Pipi, de salvar al Real Madrid a entrenar con Zidane" [Pipi, from saving Real Madrid to training with Zidane]. mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  6. "Real Madrid: Pipi, pride and joy of 'La Fábrica' called up by Zidane". en.as.com. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. "Real Madrid Japanese teen Takuhiro Nakai enjoys senior team training call". tribalfootball.com. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  8. "Real Madrid : Takuhiro Nakai, L'autre Prodige Nippon des Merengue" [Real Madrid: Takuhiro Nakai, The Other Japanese Prodigy of The Merengue]. onzemondial.com (in French). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. "¿Quién es el japonés Pipi, el juvenil al que ha citado Zidane?" [Who is the Japanese Pipi, the youth that Zidane has mentioned?]. as.com (in Spanish). 12 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  10. "Pipi: The Japanese prodigy training with Real Madrid's first team". marca.com. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. "日本天才中井卓大将满16 有望与皇马签职业合同" [Japanese genius Takuru Nakai is expected to sign a professional contract with Real Madrid at 16]. sports.sina.com (in Chinese). 23 October 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
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