New Juventus midfielder Khéphren Thuram gave his first press conference for the club and revealed he had always wanted to play for the Bianconeri. The 23-year-old is the son of former Juve defender Liilian, and speaking to the gathered press, he revealed the influence his father had on his decision to move to Turin this summer:
Thuram was asked about his initial experiences with the team:
“The first week has gone very well. I’ve been working well with the group and the coach. Everything is going very well here.”
When questioned about his father’s advice and the potential rivalry with his brother:
“Obviously, my dad told me that Juventus is the biggest club in Italy and the world, for him. I need to take advantage of every moment I spend here, not just as a player but also with the staff, who are among the best in the world. For me, it will be an opportunity for growth and learning, both as a person and as a player. As for my brother, we’ll see how this season goes. We’ll see.”
Thuram described the process of his transfer to Juventus:
“Being here is a dream. It was also a dream to speak for the first time with the sporting director and the coach. I’ve always wanted to play for Juventus since I was a child, where many prestigious French players have played. I’m even prouder to wear this jersey, which has great significance. So every day I wake up feeling very fortunate.”
He discussed the legacy of French players at Juventus and his conversations with Jean-Clair Todibo:
“I hope to do well like the other French players, such as Matuidi, Pogba, and my dad, who played here. As for Todibo, yes, we talked, but not about Juventus, just about many other things. We’ll see if he ends up here or not.”
Reflecting on his childhood memories and aspirations:
“I was young when Juventus won the four Scudetti, so I don’t remember much. I hope to win many Scudetti with this club. My dad will be happy for me just as he is for my brother. To him, we are his children, and his happiness is the same.”
Thuram acknowledged the impact of Thiago Motta’s presence as Juventus’ coach on his decision to join:
“Yes, it was definitely important that Thiago Motta became the coach of Juventus. As a player, he was exceptional, very intelligent, knew how to defend very well, and worked well with his group. I can learn a lot from him. I know if I have questions, he will be able to help me. So yes, it was important.”
When asked about his preferred position and idols:
“I don’t have a preferred position; I can play as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder, depending on where the coach wants me to play. I have two role models: the first is Paul Pogba, and the second is Patrick Vieira. Two great players, I like them a lot.”
On his brother’s opinion that he is the better player:
“He says that because he loves me a lot. According to him, I’m stronger, but for me, he’s stronger. I’m very happy for him. He has had a long career, played in France, and reached the national team. For me, he is a model and the best in the family. He plays as a forward, scores many goals, and provides many assists. For me, he is the strongest.”
Thuram shared his interactions with Paul Pogba and Thiago Motta:
“I have never spoken to Pogba. He is a friend of my brother, and I was a fan of his not just for his football skills but also for his hair changes. The coach talks to me every day, follows me, and asks me to follow the game. He has also given me some advice that I can’t reveal, otherwise, I would be giving away too much. You can tell he was a very intelligent player.”
Describing his playing style and strengths:
“I love moving the ball around. I like to play vertically. I also have great dynamism, and I play a lot with the ball at my feet. I can recover balls aggressively. I am complete, but I still have a long way to go.”
On improving his goal-scoring ability:
“Yes, I would like to score more because I see it as growth, but it’s not the most important thing for me. I need to create a bridge between defense and attack and provide balance and support to the team by recovering many balls. Of course, everyone likes to score, but it is not the main task; that’s what the forwards are for.”
Thuram expressed his confidence in adapting to Serie A and the advice he has received:
“Yes, my characteristics are suited to Serie A. I know it is a very tactical league with high-level teams. It’s my first time, and I will need to readjust. Deschamps has given me a lot of advice, and I will treasure his words. But, of course, I talk to my dad every day, and he is the person I talk to the most.”
On the influence of his former coach, Francesco Farioli:
“Yes, the coach is very important to me because he trusted me. He talked to me a lot and waited for me because I was in a young team, a leader in that team. He expected a lot from me and talked to me a lot, and he was an important figure along with all his staff.”
Thuram concluded by reflecting on his destiny with Juventus:
“Yes, I agree, I also think Juventus has always been in my destiny. The first time they showed interest, I was 17 years old and at Monaco, but I wanted to grow as a player before arriving, so I chose Nice. Both Vieira and Henry gave me a lot of advice and talked to me about Juventus. They said: now your career is taking off. They were very happy for me, and I am grateful for that because it is not a given, they do it in their own way. It makes me happy.”
