Sae Itoshi─BL─

Sae's main goal before the start of the series was to become the best striker in the world and, in turn, the best player in the world, but after leaving Japan and experiencing the professional league in Spain, he changed his dream to become the best midfielder in the world, after realizing how truly weak Japanese football is compared to the rest of the world.

At the beginning of the series, he is in Japan only to renew his passport, but after hearing about the Blue Lock project, he decides to stay to find out firsthand the results of the project, later joining the Japanese Under-20 National Team to face the Blue Lock 11 in the match that will decide the Japanese squad for the next Under-20 World Cup, for which he recruited Shidou Ryusei.

After the Japanese Under-20 National Team match concluded, he admitted to Rin that he had been wrong about strikers in Japan and that he believed Isagi Yoichi could revolutionize football in Japan.

Sae Itoshi (糸師 冴, Itoshi Sae?) is a prodigy soccer player, known as the best player in Japan. Sae is also a member of the "New Generation World's Eleven," as well as La Real's youth team. He is the older brother of Rin Itoshi.

Sae is a tall but thin young man with reddish-brown hair and thin green eyes that are framed by a set of long lower lashes much like his brother, Rin. During the National Representative match, he dons the white number 10 jersey of the Japan U-20 National Team with a black T-shirt underneath and black gloves.

Sae seems to easily gain the respect of most people in a room due to his reputation and ability, even with his bad attitude and blunt way of speaking, and is able to manipulate and attract loud and harsh people to listen to him or do things his way. Although Sae is a difficult person, he is not impossible to work with, especially if he is getting something out of it. He, out of pure self-interest, decides to stay in Japan on a whim after learning about the Blue Lock Project and even joins the Japanese U-20 National Team for the match against the Blue Lock 11. But when his interest is satisfied, he has no problem abandoning those he deems unworthy of his time.

Although Sae displays arrogance, he doesn't mind remaining in his role as a key midfielder and passer. During the match for the right to Japan's national team, Sae gave the Japan U-20 forwards every chance to score and only after repeated failures did he decide to score himself, successfully. After the match between the Japan U-20 national team and Blue Lock 11, Sae is quick to admit when he's wrong, telling Rin that he was wrong about Japan, as they are actually capable of producing good forwards (like Yoichi Isagi) and that their football could still change for the better.

From a young age, Sae has been cold, outspoken, and very serious. He has only cared about becoming the best striker in the world and has only had time for things that bring him closer to his goal. Sae can also be arrogant and condescending, looking down on others, even those older than him and with more authority in the organization. He is selfish in his football game, but has proven capable of restraining himself and playing his position without trying to overshadow others unnecessarily.

Sae takes great pride in his football role and belittles Japanese football and everyone involved. He claims he'd rather die or play in Europe with a group of college students than play in the J-League or for the Japanese national team. He's very confident in his abilities and wholeheartedly believes that no one in the Japan U-20 team is worthy of his skills as a teammate. He dislikes the fact that he was born in Japan, saying things as if he were simply born in the wrong country.