Blue Lock manga may have sealed Igaguri's fate with the latest chapter
Blue Lock chapter 287 is set to be released on December 11, 2024, but the spoilers for the chapter have been revealed and confirmed Igaguri's fate as one of the failures produced by Jinpachi's project. Despite the efforts of the Bastard Munchen player, he was asked to leave the stadium after receiving a yellow card. Given the series of events, Igaguri might have to end his journey as a footballer.
Igaguri's journey in the series has been lukewarm at best, given how his role as a team player is negligible. While other players develop themselves according to their position on the field, Igaguri could be described best as a desperate bird trying to run away from something (which is to become a monk). However, just like Isagi said, he was needed for the protagonist in the early stage of Blue-Lock.
Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the Blue Lock manga series and has the author's opinion.
Blue Lock: Exploring the end of Igaguri's football career
Blue Lock chapter 287 spoilers saw the final stretches of the match between Bastard Munchen and Paris X Gen as the Neo Egoist League was a few minutes from its conclusion. In such crucial times, Rin and Shidou allied (just like Isagi and Kaiser) to outdo the opposition. However, they were outclassed on their first try to score a goal, followed by Isagi's mockery towards them.
The game then resumed with PXG's Shidou having the ball in his game, as he marched towards the goal. However, he was interrupted by the most unexpected player, Igaguri.
Igaguri claimed that he would let the PXG player pass, to which the latter felt surprised. However, Igaguri was easily outmatched as Shidou passed through the Bastard Munchen player with ease.
Igaguri left forward hoping to stop Shidou. Unfortunately, Igaguri unintentionally pushed him. Luckily, Shidou managed to pass the ball to Rin as the play continued. However, after Rin's shot got declined, Igaguri was awarded a yellow card for foul play. As he was sitting hopelessly on the ground, Blue Lock chapter 287 spoilers saw Noa asking him to get subbed by another player.
Igaguri couldn't see the last moment of his career, where he could prove his worth, go to waste, and request the master to please let him play. He also hadn't received any offers from other clubs of the Neo Egoist League so he wanted to stay until the final whistle. Unfortunately, Noa was adamant and stated that Igaguri would be subbed. Isagi consoled his friend on this occasion as Igaguri cried.
Overall, Igaguri's journey in the Project Blue-Lock and Neo Egoist League hasn't been the most impressive one as he doesn't have a 'personality' when it comes to football. He was once just a dream boy running from his fate of inheriting his family's temple and becoming a monk. During the Blue-Lock vs U-20 Japan match, Igaguri got no minutes to play, but due to the process of the NEL, he played under Noa.
Unfortunately, all of it amounted to nothing as his impact on the field was negligible. Even though Isagi consoled him and made him feel like his presence was needed, it might be due to the process only because his potential as a footballer was feeble from the start.
Final thoughts
Football is a journey and for some people, this journey ends before they even reach the limelight. Igaguri might be a prime example of this because he couldn't fit in with the rest of his teammates.
While his performance did well in the first stage of Project Blue-Lock, he was sidelined afterward and his performance in the final match of the Neo-Egoist League proved that he needed to rethink his career choices. As this league's purpose is to select candidates for Japan's U-20 team, Igaguri is all but confirmed to not be included in the final line-up.
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