Sato disappears in Valencia

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Valencia Athletic Club

17/10/26 21:00:00

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Ryunosuke Sato, a 19-year-old Japanese forward, is among the latest news from Valencia as he has gone three consecutive matches without playing a single minute with the club since the sacking of Carlos Corberán. The player also didn't feature in the debut of Javier Aguirre, where Valencia drew 2-2 against Racing de Santander, raising doubts about his situation just three months after signing.

The Japanese international arrived last summer from FC Tokyo in a deal close to €4 million. He signed until June 2031 and became the first Japanese player in the history of Valencia's first team.

This is how Ryunosuke Sato debuted with Valencia in the preseason. 19 years old. https://t.co/awlKO8rr5d

— Rematesbets (@Rematesbets) July 22, 2026

Ryunosuke Sato loses prominence after Carlos Corberán's departure

The shift in Ryunosuke Sato's situation directly coincides with the dismissal of Carlos Corberán, who left the bench on September 13 following poor team results.

Under Corberán, the Japanese player started in three out of the first five LaLiga matches. His involvement suggested that the coaching staff intended to use him from the beginning of the season, despite it being his first experience in Spanish football.

However, things changed with the interim arrival of Óscar Sánchez to the bench. Sato did not play in any of the two matches overseen by the reserve team's coach, losing the consistency he had in the initial games.

Even with Javier Aguirre's arrival, his prominence has not changed. In the draw against Racing, the Mexican opted for other players, leaving the Japanese player without minutes, extending his absence on the field to three matches.

Javier Aguirre needs to reintegrate Sato

The new Valencia coach has a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend it for another year. Among his pending decisions is the handling of a player for whom the club made an investment during the summer transfer window.

Before the Santander match, Javier Aguirre publicly praised the Japanese player's good attitude in training. However, this acknowledgment has not yet translated into playing time during official matches. Sato has requested an opportunity from Javier Aguirre.

The Japanese national team even released the player early from their international camp to aid in his adaptation to the new coaching staff. Sato was a starter against Venezuela but returned to Spain before their following match against Ecuador.

This decision allowed the forward to train under the Mexican coach for several days. However, Aguirre chose other offensive alternatives in his first match in charge of Valencia.

Valencia needs to recover a future investment in Sato

Expectations regarding Ryunosuke Sato are not just due to his transfer cost. Before arriving at Mestalla, the player scored six goals and provided an assist in 19 official matches with FC Tokyo in 2026.

He was also named the best player in the Under-23 Asian Cup, where he finished as the top scorer with four goals. His international performances were key reasons supporting his signing.

The competition remains intense. In Aguirre's debut, David Otorbi, an 18-year-old, came off the bench to score the equalizer against Racing, making a case for more opportunities.

Ryunosuke Sato's next challenge will be to regain a spot in the offensive rotations. The Japanese player turns 20 on October 16, and Aguirre will have to decide whether to trust him again or stick with other players in upcoming matches.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sato desaparece en el Valencia