Juventus is weird right now. It’s a club caught between a glorious, trophy-laden past and a future that feels, honestly, a bit shaky. But if you watch them play for five minutes, your eyes eventually glue themselves to one specific jugador de la Juve. Kenan Yıldız. He’s not just another kid coming out of the Next Gen ranks; he is the guy inheriting the literal and figurative number 10 shirt, a weight that has crushed plenty of world-class talents before him.
He's special. You can see it in how he carries himself.
Most 19-year-olds look terrified when they step onto the pitch at the Allianz Stadium. Not Kenan. When he scored that absolute banger against PSV in the Champions League—curling it into the far corner off the post—it wasn’t just a goal. It was a statement. He became the youngest scorer for the club in that competition, breaking a record held by none other than Alessandro Del Piero. That’s the kind of pressure we’re talking about here.
The Bayern Munich mistake and the Turin arrival
How did he even get here? Basically, Bayern Munich messed up. Big time. Yıldız spent a decade in their academy, but when it came time to talk about a professional path, the German giants hesitated. Juventus didn’t. In 2022, they swooped in and convinced the Turkish-German teenager that Turin was the place to be.
It was a masterstroke by the scouting department.
While everyone was looking at established stars, Juve was building a foundation with guys like Yıldız. He didn't just walk into the first team, though. He had to grind. He started with the Primavera (U19s), moved to the Next Gen in Serie C, and then Max Allegri—who isn't exactly known for throwing kids into the fire—realized he couldn't keep this kid on the bench anymore.
What makes him different from other wingers?
If you look at the modern jugador de la Juve, they usually fit a mold. They are tactical, disciplined, and sometimes a little bit... boring? Yıldız is the opposite. He’s chaotic in the best way possible. His low center of gravity allows him to turn on a dime, leaving defenders looking like they’re wearing lead boots.
He plays with his tongue out sometimes. Remind you of anyone?
That Del Piero comparison isn't just lazy journalism. The way he cuts in from the left, the way he celebrates with the tongue-out gesture—it’s an intentional homage to the greatest player to ever wear the colors. But stylistically, he’s a bit more modern. He has a physical robustness that Alex didn't necessarily have at 19. He can ride a tackle. He doesn't go down easily.
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Thiago Motta, the current gaffer, clearly sees him as the centerpiece of his project. Under Allegri, Kenan was a spark plug. Under Motta, he’s the engine. He’s being asked to do more defensive work, to press higher, and to be the creative hub when the midfield gets congested.
The weight of the Number 10
Giving a teenager the number 10 at Juventus is a massive gamble. This is the shirt of Platini. Baggio. Del Piero. Tevez. Dybala. It’s heavy.
When Paul Pogba’s situation left the number vacant, the club had a choice. They could have bought a big-name superstar to sell shirts. Instead, they gave it to Kenan. It was a move that signaled a total shift in philosophy. Juventus is no longer the club that just buys the finished product; they are trying to grow it.
Honestly, it's working. Even when he has a "bad" game, he attracts two or three defenders, which opens up space for Dusan Vlahovic or Teun Koopmeiners. He’s a gravity well.
Why he chose Turkey over Germany
This is something that still riles up fans in Munich and Berlin. Yıldız was born in Regensburg. He speaks fluent German. He grew up in the German system. But he chose to represent Turkey. Why? Because the Turkish Football Federation made him feel wanted when Germany was still "evaluating" him.
Vincenzo Montella, the Turkey national team coach, basically built his attack around the kid. When he scored against Germany in a friendly in Berlin, the irony was thick enough to cut with a knife. He celebrated right in front of the fans who could have been cheering for him.
For Juventus, this international pedigree is gold. He’s gaining experience in high-pressure environments like the Euros, which only makes him more composed when he steps out for a Derby d’Italia against Inter.
The technical breakdown: Why he’s hard to mark
Most defenders hate playing against him because he’s truly ambidextrous. If you force him onto his left foot, he’ll cross it or shoot just as comfortably as he would with his right. That’s a nightmare for a fullback.
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- He uses his body as a shield.
- His first touch is almost always directed toward the goal.
- He doesn't "over-dribble"—he makes the move and gets the ball out.
- His vision is underrated; he sees the third-man run before it happens.
It’s not just about the flashy stuff, though. His work rate is genuinely impressive for a "creative" player. Motta demands high-intensity pressing, and Kenan is usually the first one sprinting toward the goalkeeper.
The "Next Gen" revolution in Turin
You can't talk about this jugador de la Juve without mentioning the system that produced him. The Next Gen project (formerly U23) is the only one of its kind in Italy. While other Italian clubs send their kids out on loan to Serie B or C teams where they sit on the bench, Juve keeps them in-house.
They play against grown men in the lower leagues while training under the eyes of the first-team staff.
Kenan is the poster boy for this, but he’s not alone. Nicolo Fagioli, Fabio Miretti (currently on loan), and Samuel Mbangula are all part of this new wave. It’s saved the club tens of millions in transfer fees. Instead of buying a 50-million-euro winger, they developed Yıldız for basically nothing.
Real talk: Can he actually reach the top?
Look, we’ve seen "the next big thing" fizzle out a thousand times. Injuries happen. Ego gets in the way.
But with Yıldız, the "vibe" feels different. He’s grounded. He lives a relatively quiet life in Turin. His family is heavily involved in his career, keeping him focused. The club has him under a long-term contract until 2029, which shows they are all-in.
The biggest challenge he faces isn't talent; it’s consistency. In Serie A, defenders will eventually figure out your favorite moves. They’ll start kicking you. They’ll double-team you. How he adapts to that "sophomore" scouting report will determine if he becomes a legend or just another "what if."
What you should watch for in the next few months
If you're following Juventus, keep an eye on his positioning. Motta has been experimenting with him. Sometimes he’s wide left, sometimes he’s a "shadow striker" behind Vlahovic.
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His chemistry with Koopmeiners is going to be the deciding factor in whether Juve can actually challenge for the Scudetto this year. When those two are on the same page, the passing lanes open up like magic.
Also, watch his stamina. He’s still growing into his frame. Late in games, his decision-making can sometimes dip as fatigue sets in. That’s normal for a teenager, but in the Champions League knockout stages, those small errors get punished.
Actionable insights for fans and followers
If you're a scout, a fan, or just someone trying to keep up with European football, here is how to track his progress effectively:
1. Monitor the "Big Game" stats
Don't just look at his goals against bottom-table teams. Check his successful dribbles and "progressive carries" in games against Inter, Milan, and top-tier Champions League opponents. That’s where he proves he belongs.
2. Follow the Turkish National Team matches
International breaks are usually boring, but Kenan plays with a different kind of freedom for Turkey. Watching him there gives you a better sense of his pure creative ceiling when he isn't tied down by the tactical rigors of Serie A.
3. Watch his off-the-ball movement
The next time you watch a Juve game, stop following the ball. Just watch Kenan. Notice how he drags defenders away to create space for others. That "invisible" work is why he stays on the pitch for 90 minutes.
Juventus is in a transition period, and Kenan Yıldız is the bridge to whatever comes next. He represents a gamble on youth, a return to flair, and a middle finger to the idea that the "number 10" is a dying breed in football. Whether he becomes the next Del Piero remains to be seen, but right now, he’s the most exciting reason to watch Italian football.
Stay updated on his injury status and starting lineups through official club channels or reliable Italian sources like La Gazzetta dello Sport to see how his role evolves under Motta's rotating system.