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Southampton signing labelled one of world’s best wonderkids and he has ‘incredible gift’
With the teenager very much ‘one for the future’, Southampton’s hopes of Premier League survival are unlikely to be impacted by one of world football’s best young talents.
But there is a reason why The Saints have a reputation for being one of the best clubs around when it comes to unearthing the next generation of top talents.
From Sadio Mane to Virgil van Dijk, from Gareth Bale to the king of the current crop Tyler Dibling, Rento Takaoka will arrive at Southampton hoping to follow in the footsteps of some very familiar faces.
Southampton agreed a deal to sign 17-year-old Takaoka this summer. The baby-faced forward, who currently plies his trade for Nissho Gakuen High School, will move to England when he turns 18 in March of next year.
Southampton’s Rento Takaoka included among world’s best talents
Takoaka caught the eye at the Under 17 World Cup back in 2023, scoring a thumping left-footed winner against Poland in the tournament opener and ending the group-stages with four goals to his name.
In addition to his fearsome ball-striking, Takoaka’s ‘explosive pace’ also saw him emerge as one of the competition’s breakout talents.
One year on, the striker has earned himself a place in annual ‘Next Generation’ list too
A 60-strong roster of the ‘best young talents in world football’, Takoaka is included alongside Barcelona duo Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal as well as Chido Obi-Martin.
Man United snapped up Obi-Martin from Premier League rivals Arsenal recently.
Takoaka, scorer of five goals in 10 caps at Under 17 level for his country, also continues a proud tradition of Far East talent at Southampton.
He will become their fifth Japanese player when he makes his debut, joining Tadanari Lee, Takumi Minamino, former captain Maya Yoshida and current first-choice right-back Yukinari Sugawara.
“Takaoka has strength, speed and fighting spirit,” his Japan coach Yoshiro Moriyama told the official FIFA . “He’s a fighter and has the energy to make things happen. He has this incredible gift for scoring inside the box and he’s always in the right place.”
Japan starlet Takaoka shares his Southampton ambitions
I want to be a destroyer,” Takaoka himself explains to reporters. “I want to destroy my opponents in every aspect: with my speed, my industry and the accuracy of my finishing. My [ersonal] goal is to win the World Cup.
“I want to score lots of goals for Southampton and become a player who can give dreams to children of the future.
“I definitely want to be promoted to the senior team and play an active role on the world stage.”
In the present, Southampton’s main priority is to start getting some valuable points and wins on the board following a tough start to life back in the Premier League.
A home clash with fellow newcomers Leicester City on Saturday afternoon is exactly the sort of game manager Russell Martin would have had circled on the fixture list as a ‘must win’.
TBR understands that the aforementioned Tyler Dibling is on the radars of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile. The 19-year-old scored the goal which won Southampton their only point so far, netting an opener in that 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.