Blue Lock: Will Sae Itoshi play for Japan in the World Cup?

The Blue Lock manga is currently in its most exciting juncture, with the Neo Egoist League having concluded and the participants preparing for the U-20 World Cup. As the grandest stage for young footballers and the purpose behind Jinpachi Ego’s project, the upcoming tournament will see the main characters reap the rewards of their hard work.

However, one common question that most fans have surrounding Japan’s participation in the World Cup is not about the remaining cast, but an individual who hasn’t appeared in a long time. This is Sae Itoshi, Rin’s brother, and a prodigy who is considered the best player in the country. Despite his limited appearances, Sae captivated viewers through his skills and attitude.

Hence, many are wondering whether he will be representing the country on the world stage. Unless there are major changes, Sae Itoshi is unlikely to play for Japan in the U-20 World Cup, as Ego is determined not to alter his final lineup, and Sae himself has not expressed interest in playing for the country.

Sae Itoshi is a genius playmaker who is always serious and blunt. Those around him consider him to be rude, but no one can deny his capabilities on the field. He is a member of the New Generation World 11, along with the likes of Michael Kaiser and Don Lorenzo, and is also part of the Spanish club Re Al’s youth team.

Being from Japan, it is natural to wonder why Sae is not part of the country’s team, representing them internationally and helping them reach greater heights. However, much like the main characters in Blue Lock, Sae is highly egoistic and cares about himself more than anyone else. In an interview at the outset, Sae shut down the possibility of him playing for Japan.

He did not believe any forward in the country deserved to receive his passes, openly insulting his home nation. Sae stated that his only dream was to win the Champions League, which was for the club format and could be achieved with Re Al. However, after hearing the announcement of Project Blue Lock from Anri, Sae’s interest fell on this training project.

As a result, he did not completely give up hope on Japan, playing against Isagi’s team in the U-20 Arc. During the match, Sae displayed his unparalleled prowess but was ultimately defeated by his opponents. After the game, he was impressed with Isagi, who convinced him that Japan could still change.

This made many believe that Sae could eventually join the Japanese U-20 team for the World Cup since he was only 18 years old. However, apart from his brief comments on Isagi, Sae has never outright stated that he wishes to represent Japan.

The reason why Sae Itoshi will not play for Japan in Blue Lock

The primary reason why Sae Itoshi will not play for Japan in Blue Lock is that Jinpachi Ego will not permit it. As the mastermind behind Project Blue Lock, Ego had come up with the Neo Egoist League to select the top 23 players who would play for the country in the World Cup.

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When pressured by the Chairman of the JFU to bring Nagi back, Ego remained determined to only allow his chosen players to represent Japan. Therefore, with the lineup for the team being full and each participant assigned specific training programs by Ego, there seems to be no way for Sae Itoshi to sneak his way into the team.

Even if Sae was interested in being part of the squad, many fans would be disappointed and underwhelmed to see the prodigy get a free pass to play for Japan when the rest of the characters have poured in blood, sweat, and tears to rank among the top 23 and earn their place in the team.

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