The big foreign signings in the J.League are not working out so far this season.

After 10 rounds of league matches, the performance of these superstars are not living up to their names. This is especially so for the Spanish-flavoured Vissel Kobe and Sagan Tosu, whose disastrous results have been totally unexpected. Voices of concern can now be heard about these news having a negative impact on Japanese football.

Vissel Kobe, chaired by Rakuten founder Hiroshi Mikitani, have gotten the most attention this season with their ambitious plan to model the club after FC Barcelona. The 37 year-old former Spain international David Villa was added to a squad already rostered with Andres Iniesta and Lukas Podolski. Their star-studded line-up had them being touted as title contender before the start of the season. But results proved otherwise and Spanish tactician Juan Manuel Lillo, who had been invited for to steer the project, stepped down as manager on 17 April.

Troubles within the club then began to surface, triggered by the 33 year-old Podolski. First, he relinquished his captaincy on the day of Lillo’s departure announcement. Next, he was caught swearing in German at a ball boy in the match against Urawa Red Diamonds on 20 April. And on 28 April, he leaked on his social media platform that he would not be playing against Kawasaki Frontale, two days before the match. After a 3-day suspension, he apologised to the team.

Key player Andres Iniesta has continued to be out of action from muscle injuries since the Kawasaki Frontale match. The club has yet to see much returns for the 34 year-old, who is paid 25 million euros a year. After five straight defeats, Vissel Kobe have now dropped to 13th in the league.

The Spanish contingent’s collapse at Sagan Tosu is even more pronounced.

35 year-old Fernando Torres, who joined in the middle of last season, seems to be still struggling in his new surrounding. He has yet to score this season and the team is currently bottom of the league. Highly-rated new signing Isaac Cuenca has not been able to fit into the team as well. Manager Lluis Carreras arrived at the club with much fanfare in December 2018, but found the going tough and was dismissed on 5 May, less than half a year into his job.

“There’s a possibility that our league will be viewed as one where big-name players can’t produce the goods,” a J.League club official said.

While the slumps of these star players may indicate the high level of the J.League, it can be a cause for concern to the league’s playing reputation when it comes to attracting foreign players.

The season has yet to reach the one-third point, and the big foreign players have already been a letdown. At this rate, will the J.League will be able to recapture its original brilliance and invigorate its future?

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Source: Yahoo

Images: gettyimages