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The story
Former Spain international and Real Madrid legend goalkeeper Iker Casillas named Zion Suzuki as a candidate to succeed Thibaut Courtois, calling him “a special goalkeeper.” Suzuki came up through Urawa Red Diamonds’ youth academy and now plays for Parma. With Courtois set to turn 35 later this season, attention has turned to finding his successor. On 5ch, while many reacted with surprise and excitement at the praise from a legend, others took a more cautious view, questioning whether “they’re name-dropping too big a star,” and the debate also split over how to treat Suzuki’s heritage in terms of his identity as “Japanese.”
Japan’s guardian between the posts
Former Spain international goalkeeper Iker Casillas has revealed a player who could become the successor to Belgium international Thibaut Courtois at his old club, Real Madrid.
A product of Real Madrid’s own youth academy, Casillas made his first-team debut in 1999 and went on to contribute to numerous title wins, including Champions League triumphs. As Spain’s last line of defense, he also helped the national team win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, underpinning its golden era.
Source: theworldmagazine.jp / Original article here
What people said
He's a prouder Japanese person than you'll ever be.
We don't need someone like you.
Seriously, that might be it
That's a level no Japanese player has ever reached.
He'll definitely be a candidate.
I think he might end up the best keeper in the world.
Even among legends, he's rated differently from someone like Raúl.
This is huge.
Isn't the English Premier League the top flight though?
He did have his blunders, sure, but he's basically a straight upgrade on Kawaguchi — when he turned it on, nothing got past him.
Truly a Galáctico.
Names like Verbruggen or Resto come up?
It's reasonable that Zion shows up as a strong candidate too.
Mixed-heritage athletes truly are the future of Japanese sports!!! ("half," a Japanese term for someone of mixed Japanese/foreign heritage)
Still, Real Madrid is just insane.
How many Japanese players would that make at Real Madrid?
Still, that'd be plenty impressive too.
Then again, Pérez neglects defense and won't spend money on it, so while Real Madrid genuinely needs a new keeper, the odds are low.
Well, well.
Oh, so it really is like that.
Last week I wrote "Real's a lock to sign him as Courtois's successor" and got some out-of-left-field reply saying "No way, Real doesn't sign Black players" lol
Even though more than half the squad is Black these days.
Background and talking points
Goalkeeper is a unique position that, despite all the physical contact involved, demands delicate technique, and no Japanese player has yet become an established regular starter at a top European club. Courtois turns 35 this season, making the search for his successor a pressing issue, but it’s easy to misread Casillas’s comment — he only named Suzuki as a candidate worth considering, not confirmed any transfer or signing. Within the thread, debate also flared up around Suzuki’s background (having roots in both Japan and another country), pitting those emphasizing pride in his identity as a Japan national team player against comments trying to draw a line based on heritage — a dispute separate from the discussion of his ability. This is a pattern that repeats itself whenever a player of Japanese heritage succeeding abroad draws attention.
*This article is an excerpt and summary based on the 5ch (Geisupo Sokuho+) thread “[Soccer] Real Madrid legend Casillas backs Zion Suzuki as Courtois’s successor, calling him a “special goalkeeper”.”
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