David Silva, former Spain midfielder, speaks of his “love for Japan” and his “encouragement” to his “friend” Kubo Takefusa.

Praise for Japan’s Kubo Takefusa

It was truly a dream matchup.

On November 27, the “Diamond Cup of Legends” was held, featuring a J-League alumni team consisting of Daisuke Matsui (43) and Tatsuhiko Kubo (48) clashing with a legion of world superstars, including Kaka (42), Michiel Salgado (49), Robert Pires (51), and Javier Saviola (43). Among the superb members of the team, David Silva (38), the former Spain midfielder known as “The Magician,” drew the loudest cheers.

With 125 caps for the national team, he formed a captivating midfield with Andres Iniesta (40) and others, and contributed to winning the World Cup and two European Championships. At the club level, he has won the Premier League, the world’s most prestigious league, four times.

He spent the last years of his career at Real Sociedad, where he played alongside Kubo Takefusa, 23, a member of the Japanese national team, and is well known in Japan. When he retired last July, Kubo sent a message saying, “I learned a lot by your side and grew as a soccer player. Such a superstar of the soccer world responded to our direct interview.

This is Silva’s third visit to Japan, and the day before the match he enjoyed sushi and meat dishes in Roppongi, Tokyo.

He said, “In Japan, the food is delicious and the fans are very polite. I never feel uncomfortable in Japan, and I am happy every time I come here. I am really impressed by the high level of education in Japan.

Since his retirement, he has taken some time off from soccer. I don’t go to the stadium anymore, and I don’t watch as many games as I used to. What kind of life does he lead now?

I spend most of my time in my home country, Spain, with my two children. I didn’t have much time for that when I was working. I go to the gym three times a week and play padel twice a week. Javier and Carles (Pujol 46) are also known for their love of padel. There is a Padel boom in the soccer world right now (laughs).

As for his former colleague Kubo, who is still playing there, he paid tribute to his personality.

I still keep in touch with Take,” he said. We have a good relationship. When he first came to Sociedad, he was a little nervous, but he adapted to the team surprisingly quickly. I also had a difficult time at Manchester City because of the language and environmental differences, so I understand the difficulties of playing in a foreign country. Take is now one of the best players in Spain, and this is due in large part to his cheerful, joking personality, which everyone loves. He is a great guy.”

The two players are often compared because of their similarities in style of play, height, lefty, etc. “I don’t know if the comparison with me is a good thing,” he said. I don’t know if it’s a good thing to compare me,” Silva continued.

People say that I was his mentor, but that’s not true at all, everyone in the team advised him with love. Everyone in the team advised him lovingly. We are quite different, even though we are similar. I don’t want him to be pressured by comparisons with me, so I think we should keep a quiet eye on him.

The day after the match, Silva posted in Japanese on his social networking site, “See you soon! Silva posted in Japanese. The pro-Japanese legend plans to visit Japan again next year with his family.

From the December 27, 2024 issue of FRIDAY