Arturo Vidal praised Japanese teenager Takefusa Kubo ahead of Chile’s Copa America opener against Japan on Tuesday after the player dubbed the “Japanese Messi” signed for Real Madrid.

The Spanish club described him as “one of the most promising youngsters in world football” and the world will get to see him in action when Japan take on Vidal’s Chile at Sao Paolo’s Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo in the early hours of Tuesday (03:00 KO UAE time).

Chile have won the last two editions of the Copa America and will face Ecuador, Japan and Uruguay in Group C. And Barcelona midfielder Vidal says he has been keeping a close eye on the 18-year-old, who was with Barca as a youngster from 2011-15.

“He’s a very skilled player. There’s a reason why Real Madrid hired him,” said Vidal, 32, of a player who has won one cap for the Samurai Blue.

“And we know him. We have seen him, analysed him very well and we know how to stop him.”