Kaique Kenji Takamura Correa (born 30 January 2006) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro.

Kaique Kenji
Personal information
Full name Kaique Kenji Takamura Correa
Date of birth (2006-01-30) 30 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Cruzeiro
Number 69
Youth career
2015–2017 Corinthians
2017–2019 Juventus-SP
2019–2022 São Caetano
2022–2024 Cruzeiro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Cruzeiro 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:42, 24 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:42, 24 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Kenji began playing football with Corinthians before he was 10, and followed that up with stints at Juventus-SP and São Caetano, before moving to the youth academy of Cruzeiro in 2022.[1] In 2023, he signed his first professional contract with Cruzeiro for 3 seasons.[2] On 6 September 2024, he renewed professional contract until 2028 after scoring 24 goals and providing 14 assists in 30 games as a U20, and was promoted to their first team. [3] He made his senior and professional debut with Cruzeiro as a substitute in a 2–1 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A loss to Corinthians on 20 November 2024.[4] He made the matchday squad for Cruzeiro at the 2024 Copa Sudamericana final, coming on as a substitute as they lost to Racing Club on 23 November 2024.[5]

International career

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Kenji was called up to the Brazil U20s in October 2024 for a camp to train for the 2025 South American U-20 Championship, but had to drop from the squad due to an injury.[6]

Personal life

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Kenji was born in Brazil, and is of Afro-Brazilian descent through his father, and Japanese and Italian descent through his mother.[1] His father is the football agent and former Brazil international footballer Kléber de Carvalho Corrêa.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Artilheiro do Cruzeiro no sub-20 é filho de ex-lateral da Seleção e busca cidadania japonesa; conheça". ge. 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Promovido ao profissional do Cruzeiro, filho de ex-lateral da Seleção renova contrato". ge. 8 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Cruzeiro Renews Contract with Kaique Kenji, Celeste Academy Prospect - footboom1.com".
  4. ^ Ataque, No (20 November 2024). "Artilheiro da base do Cruzeiro estreia pelo profissional diante do Corinthians < No Ataque".
  5. ^ Online, Admin GMC (23 November 2024). "Cruzeiro paga por apatia no 1º tempo, e Racing conquista a Copa Sul-Americana". GMC Online.
  6. ^ "Atacante do Cruzeiro sofre lesão e se afasta dos gramados". Antenados no Futebol. 5 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Seabra de olho? Joia da base do Cruzeiro fica perto de 40 participações em gols no ano". Rádio Itatiaia. 27 August 2024.
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