Yosuke Ideguchi hasn’t played a minute of football for Cultural Leonesa since mid February, and even that appearance was because another player was suspended, and even then he was brought off at half time, not to be seen since.
For the past two matches, Ideguchi hasn’t even been in the Cultural match-day squad. It’s not that he’s injured, it’s just pure managerial choice.
Whichever way it’s spun, Leeds United loaning the Japan international to their Aspire football-friend has been a disaster so far. The situation gets more coverage in Japan than Spain, and there’s every chance Ideguchi has blown his chances of being at the World Cup.
His chances of getting a work permit to actually appear for Leeds are less now than they were in January, given he’s now out of the national squad, and not getting into Cultural’s squad isn’t exactly something that would impress the FA points board.
Japan’s Sportiva Shueisha have been speaking to the player’s representative and he sounds remarkably calm, feeling buoyed by Ideguchi’s Cultural debut back in March. That he was combative (he picked up a yellow card) is seen as a good sign and something which can be carried forward. But it was only a ten minute appearance, in January.
There have been interpreter issues, according to the claims, and it’s not helping the footballer get the hang of tactics in Spain.
It’s not known where Ideguchi will be next season, with it pointed out that ‘perhaps’ he won’t be in Spain. It’s pretty sure he won’t be in England either, and Leeds United need to sort the interpreter problems regardless of where the 21 year old ends up.
A return to Japan may solve all that, but it’s not what the player wants.
