An opportunity in the Japanese League for “Japanese Sensei” goalkeeper Akira Fantini

A chance in the J-League for Akira Fantini, the Italian-Japanese goalkeeper born in 1998. After a journey in Japan that began in 2017 with Sagan Tosu coached by Massimo Ficcadiente, Fantini has in recent weeks signed a contract with Kyoto FC Sanga. From the top Japanese section. He has signed a one-year contract and will start as the third goalkeeper in the hierarchy but will have the opportunity to play in the Emperor's Cup, which has great visibility in Japan.

A nice jump for Fantini, after his experience in the third season with Fukushima United. Akira holds a dual Italian and Japanese passport: he was born in Chiba, Japan, then grew up in Beijing, China, where his father, Pierluigi, worked as a principal and his mother (Michino Omura) taught Japanese at international schools in Beijing. At the age of 14, Akira joined his paternal grandparents in Cesena where he attended middle and high school and began playing for AC Cesena, playing for Ciccarelli's Allivi and Primavera Angelini, with Emiliano Dei as goalkeeping coach. In December 2015, goalkeeper Shoichi Gonda also trained with them at Villa Sylvia, having relaunched himself in Romania after a difficult period until he was called up to the Japanese national team for the World Cup in Qatar.