Juventus have departed for Herzogenaurach, Germany, to train at Adidas headquarters, a place that evokes pleasant memories for Kenan Yildiz, who signed his first contract with the German brand at just 10 years old. The 19-year-old Turkish player, however, is not participating in the German retreat. He bid farewell to his teammates at Continassa and is enjoying a few days of relaxation after Euro 2024 and nasal septum surgery. He will join the group on July 30.
New manager Thiago Motta has a soft spot for Yildiz and is eager to work with him. During his introductory press conference, Motta expressed his admiration for the young talent, stating, “I saw him two days ago, he seemed like a fantastic guy as I had heard. On the field, he can play any role, he has desire, availability, and talent.” Motta is ready to make Yildiz a cornerstone of Juventus’ present, while the club’s management is working to secure his future.
Juventus believes in Yildiz’s talent and sees him as a champion to build their future around. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is advancing discussions to extend his contract, with both parties willing to extend the agreement until 2028 or 2029. According to reports, a new summit between Juventus management and Yildiz’s entourage is scheduled for August to try to reach a final agreement.
There’s also the question of the jersey number. Kenan dreams of emulating his idol Alessandro Del Piero and wearing the iconic number 10. He won’t ask for it, but he would be ready to take on the responsibility if the club decided to give it to him. Juventus is considering this possibility after securing him until 2029.
Motta is already studying how to deploy Yildiz on the field. The Italian-Brazilian coach sees him as a versatile talent who can play multiple positions: left winger, second striker, attacking midfielder behind the center forward, or even as a false nine when needed.
For Motta and Juventus, Yildiz is untouchable. This is why Giuntoli will make an effort to complete the operation and secure his contract until 2029. Meanwhile, Juventus has reiterated to Chelsea that the Turkish player will not be moving, even though the Blues have not completely given up yet. This underscores Yildiz’s exceptional status in a Juventus where no player is considered unsellable anymore.
