Takumi Minamino ( Minamino Takumi ) is a Japanese football player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for the Japan national team. Minamino is usually affectionately called Taki (Short for his full name) by his teammates.
Minamino has also joined several acclaimed football clubs and contributed much to his teams. He started his club career in J League Division in 2012. In 2014 he joined the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg where he spent four successful years. Following his success, he joined Liverpool on January 1, 2020, where the club won the premier league.
Again on February 1, 2021, Minamino joined Southhampton on loan for the rest of the premier league season. However, on June 28, 2022, Monaco announced that Minamino had signed a four-year contract with them. He was also part of his country’s national team, which reached the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Let’s get to know the athlete better through the below article.
Takumi Minamino’s Early Life
Takumi Minamino was born on January 16, 1994, in Inzumisana, Osaka, Japan. He used to fro the local club called Sessel Kumatori while studying in elementary school. Brazilian striker Ronaldo was Minamino’s inspiration as the former footballer was the top scorer at the 2002 world cup, which Japan co-hosted when Minamino was only seven years old.
Takumi Minamino attended Osaka-kokoku High School. The player describes himself as an active child while growing up and also inspired by his own older brother Kents and father. For example, his father would put cones down in a parking area for them to dribble in and out of at speed.
There is not much information about the player’s parents on the internet as he has not given any information to the tabloids. All we know is he has an older brother named Kents Minamino.
Career In Club
At the age of 12, Minamino joined the Cerezo Osaka youth team and improvised his skills in football through the academy. Minamo participated in Japan’s U15 side in August 2009 and got eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Despite the team’s loss, Takumi scored eighty goals in the tournament. Minamino played at Cerezo Osaka from 2012 to 2014. He stayed in the club for two years and later signed in for other European clubs.
The Japanese football player later joined Red Bull Salzburg. The club has been tracking the Japanese plates player for a year and a half before signing a contract. Minamino had a good start to the Salzburg season when he scored his first goal in 2015.
Later the Japanese player scored more goals in the 2015-16 season. He also helped his team to win the league for the second consecutive time in his Salzburg career.
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At the end of the 2015-16 season, Minamino made 40 appearances and scored 13 times in all competitions. He played for Red Bull Salzburg for five years, from 2015-2020.
In January 2020, Minamino joined Liverpool F.C., which made him the first Japanese player to play for Liverpool. The then sporting director of his former club Salzburgs stated that “the big clubs are watching him, and if I was them, it has no hesitation in signing him. So Takumi is ready to make the next step in January.”
On January 5, Takumi made his debut at Liverpool club. And on December 19, the player scored his first league goal for his club, Liverpool.
On February 1, 2021, the Japanese player was signed on loan to Southampton for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season. However, later, he rejoined Liverpool for the 2021-2022 season.
Minamino has signed a contract to play for Monaco for four years until June 2026.
Takumi Minamino International Career
When the Japanese player was young, he played at various levels representing his Japanese team. He was also a team player for the AFC U-16 Championship tournament.
Likewise, in June 2011, Minamino was also selected for Japan’s U-17 national team for the world cup U-17 2011, in which he scored a goal against New Zealand.
Moreover, talking about his senior career, the Japanese player made his debut for Japan’s national team against Iran in a friendly match on October 13, 2015.
Minamino also participated in the FIFA World Cup qualification against Cambodia on November 17, 2015. And his first goal for Japan came on September 11, 2018, against Costa Rica.
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Moreover, he made his Asian Cup debut against Turkmenistan in January 2019.
Takumi Minamino’s Style of Playing
Minamino plays a fluid attacking role, moving freely and unlocking doors, picking a pass, and moving with elegant steps.
His slight comparative frame is often described as an advantage, as his low center of gravity means he can easily run past the players.
The manager of Liverpool has also praised him, saying,” I would like to have Minamino in Liverpool; he is classy, the best talent., He is everywhere, he defends like a devil, and then offensively, he is involved.”
Takumi Minamino’s Salary And Net Worth
In the current scenario, Minamino has signed a four-year contract until June 2026 with Monaco for a whopping 15 million Euros in ads. Before that, he played for multiple clubs, so his bank balance must be pretty impressive.
While playing for Liverpool F.C., Minamino earned 72,000 Euros per week and 3,744,000 Euros annually.
Moreover, his net worth is estimated to be 6 Million euros (5.1 million pounds). He has a market value of 12. 5 Million Euros (10.7 Million Pounds.)
Takumi Minamino Girlfriend
As Minamino is a private nature guy, he has not made a single post about his relationship or love affair on social media. However, there is a rumor, as per some sources, that he is in a relationship with actress and model Yurina Yanagi.
Minamino has not commented anything about his relationship with the actress. As we already said, Minamino is private and dislikes sharing much of his personal information with tabloids.
Takumi Minamino FIFA Stats (As Per 2023)
| Traits | Stats |
| Pace | 78 |
| Shooting | 74 |
| Passing | 70 |
| Dribbling | 81 |
| Defending | 38 |
| Physical | 62 |
| Total Stats | 403 |
Awards And Appreciation
Minamino gives amazing and graceful performances in various games. The Japanese player has also won some awards.in the year 2013, Minamino won the J.League Rookie of the year. The same year, he received other honors from Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize’s Rookie Awards. In 2020, he received the IFFHS AFC Man Team of the year.
Social Media Accounts
Instagram: takumi18minamino_official
Twitter: @takumina0116