Blue Lock has finally moved into the U-20 World Cup arc, and Sae Itoshi is officially confirmed to be part of the Japan squad. For a long time, fans were unsure if he would return, especially after Ego finalized his 23 players during the Neo Egoist League. But now, through a separate route called “Buratsuta 3”, Sae is joining the team.
The story hints he has a personal reason, and it is likely connected to Bunny Iglesias, a new rival who was introduced in Chapter 307.
What Is the Buratsuta 3?
Buratsuta is the Japan Football Union chairman who helped fund the Blue Lock project. In Chapter 308, he revealed a backdoor rule. For the U-20 World Cup, each national team can register 26 players. Ego only gets to pick 23. The remaining 3 can be handpicked by Buratsuta himself.
So far, these wildcard spots are called the “Buratsuta 3”. These players don’t go through Ego’s process. They are selected for politics, money, or influence. And this is how Sae made his return.
Nagi Refused the Offer
Before Sae contacted the chairman, Buratsuta tried to bring back Nagi. Nagi had already been eliminated from Blue Lock and was seen camping outside the facility, desperate for a second chance. Buratsuta offered him one of the three wildcard spots, but with conditions. Nagi had to win a special test designed by Buratsuta, and he had to give all his future football rights and contracts to Buratsuta. Sae was not given these conditions.
Nagi ended up refusing. Even though he still wants to play, he did not want to betray Ego. This part of the story showed how the politics around Blue Lock are getting more serious.
Sae Rejects the Group Stage
At the end of Blue Lock Chapter 308, during the phone conversation between Sae and the JFU Chairman, Baratsuta tried to convince him to join the team. He was nervous after finding out Japan is in the same group as France in the World Cup. And in the recent chapters, it was confirmed France’s Julian Loki will be participating in the U-20 World Cup as well.
But Sae was not interested in the group stage. He clearly said his only reason for joining is to play against Spain. That is where Bunny Iglesias plays, and it looks like there’s a history between them.
Sae made it clear that if Japan can’t get past the group stage without him, then there is no point. His goal, it seems, is not to carry the team but to settle a personal score.
Sae Itoshi vs Bunny Iglesias Is Now Set Up
Sae Itoshi plays for Re AI, the strongest club in the Blue Lock universe, and it is based in Spain. Bunny Iglesias plays for FC Barcha, another top-tier team in the same league. In Blue Lock Chapter 307, Isagi met Bunny in Spain during a scouting trip and later watched him score a scissor kick goal.
It is confirmed now that Bunny is also part of the New Generation World XI, just like Sae, Kaiser, and Don Lorenzo.
So the rivalry between Sae and Bunny could go way back, and the author might explore their backstory in upcoming chapters.
What do you think might have happened between Sae and Bunny? Share your theories in the comments!
