Real 'kidnap' Barca prodigy

Madrid - Real Madrid have snatched nine year-old Japanese prodigy Takuhiro Nakai from arch-rivals Barcelona, according to media reports Wednesday.

"Pipi", as Nakai is nicknamed, was playing in Japan for a football school organized by Barcelona but has now switched to one run by Real.

Videos of his astounding talents have become popular on Internet, and certain sectors of the Spanish media have hailed him as the "Cristiano Ronaldo of the future," in reference to Real's current idol.

It is not clear when Nakai will come to Madrid and for how long.

Despite losing Nakai to Real, Barca have managed to hold on to their other Japanese wunderkind, 10-year-old Takefusa Kubo.