Kept Ronaldo quiet: Bundesliga signing earns high praise

One hadn't seen Cristiano Ronaldo so perplex in a long time. Perhaps the last time was still in the Manchester United jersey. In April 2025, the superstar stood on the pitch for minutes, completely bewildered, after being knocked out with Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League semi-final, talking to himself.

He seemingly replayed some game situations in his mind and repeatedly shook his head. The defeat visibly gnawed at him, the frustration was almost palpable. 

Why are we telling you this again over half a year later? Because the origin of this rather bizarre scene lay in a stellar performance by a defender who could soon cause great despair among the likes of Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, and Deniz Undav in the Bundesliga.

Borussia Mönchengladbach didn't hesitate in 2026 and announced the transfer of Kōta Takai yesterday. The Japanese player joins the Foals on loan and comes with considerable accolades. 

With the transfer, Gladbach has secured a young, talented central defender who not only boasts impressive physical attributes but also remarkable game intelligence. The 21-year-old, who played for Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League until his move to Tottenham Hotspur, has established himself as one of Japan's most promising defensive players in recent years.

His most impressive game for Frontale was in the Asian Champions League against the star-studded team of Al Nassr. Takai strung together one clearing action after another, won nearly 85 percent of his duels, and repeatedly shone in the build-up play. Japanese media later said Takai had "Ronaldo and Mané in his pocket."

📸 Yasser Bakhsh - 2025 Getty Images

He now wants to take the next step in his career in the Lower Rhine.

With his 1.92 meters height and athletic build, Takai brings the perfect physical prerequisites for a modern central defender. Against the ball, he impresses with his proactive and aggressive playing style. He loves to intervene at the right moment, disrupt the opponent, and win the ball with lightning-fast, sliding tackles. This type of defensive play requires precise timing, which Takai has repeatedly demonstrated in his previous appearances. In Japan, he mainly operated in a back four but stands out especially for his great tactical versatility. A testament given by his former coach at Kawasaki Frontale, Shigetoshi Hasebe, during a press conference in April. 

But it's not just his defensive qualities that make Takai such an exciting player. With the ball at his feet, the Japanese player also shows promising approaches. Particularly noteworthy are his precise diagonal balls in the build-up play. Additionally, Takai – much like his compatriot and former Gladbach player Ko Itakura – likes to dribble himself. We're not talking about a solo run to the opponent's penalty area, but rather controlled ball carrying in pressing situations or a counter-movement against clever pressing by forwards. In terms of player profile, he is quite similar to Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, only he is a right-footer at home in the right central defender position. 

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Despite these qualities, the Spurs agreed to a transfer - and according to 'RP online' also to a purchase option in the summer. This is mainly due to the fact that Takai has not played a single game for Tottenham. A foot injury during pre-season prevented that, and the competition in London is brutal. Thomas Frank can count on four established central defenders with international experience: Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Radu Drăgușin, and Kevin Danso. 

At Borussia Mönchengladbach, Takai now has the opportunity to further develop in a competitive environment and become a permanent part of the defense. In the past, the club has repeatedly successfully developed young players, and Takai could be the next success story in this line. Coach Eugen Polanski commented very positively on the transfer: "In terms of profile, he is outstandingly good. But he is still a young player, comes from a different culture. He hasn't played for a long time due to injuries. He has quality, but he hasn't gotten into rhythm for half a year. We need to get to know him properly now.”

If Gladbach's coaching team wants first-hand impressions, they could ask Al Nassr and especially Cristiano Ronaldo. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Yasser Bakhsh - 2025 Getty Images