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Kenan Yildiz
Tribute Illustration
Kenan Yildiz was born in Regensburg (Germany) on May 4, 2005, and is a young football prodigy. Kenan has chosen to embrace his Turkish national identity, prioritizing his family roots over the geographical context of his birth and upbringing. Initially, he entered the world of football by playing for Jahn Regensburg, the team from his hometown.
However, at just 7 years old, he decided to embark on a new path by moving to Bayern Munich, where he went through all the stages of the youth setup. In the last season spent in Bavaria, he made 20 appearances and scored 6 goals, culminating his journey with a debut in the UEFA Youth League.
In the summer of 2022, Kenan Yildiz moved to Juventus on a free transfer, a deal that proved to be brilliantly orchestrated thanks to the strategic acumen of Matteo Tognozzi, former head of scouting for the Bianconeri.
Under his guidance for six and a half years, Juventus established itself as a true magnet for young talents eager to complete their development in the world of football.
Tognozzi played his cards astutely in Yildiz's case, securing him without additional costs from Bayern Munich, who were guilty of hesitating to offer him a contract renewal.
Kenan Yildiz has been with Bayern Munich since he was very young.
Tognozzi played his cards astutely in Yildiz's case, snatching him from Bayern Munich at no extra cost, guilty of hesitating to offer him a contract renewal. This strategic move took place just as Bayern's sporting director, Salihamidzic, was in Turin negotiating the acquisition of De Ligt. The risk of compromising relations with the Bavarians and seeing the €80 million deal tied to the sale of the Dutch player fall through was significant. Indeed, no one wanted to lose such a promising talent.
To manage the delicate situation, it was decided to spread the word abroad, making it appear that Yildiz was about to sign with Barcelona. This tactic helped divert attention from Juventus' move and allowed the deal to be concluded at the opportune moment, once again demonstrating skill and determination in the football market.
Yildiz at the signing of the contract with Juventus in the summer odf 2022.
In December 2022, Kenan Yildiz made his professional debut with Juventus Next Gen, under the guidance of Massimo Brambilla. Initially, he continued to alternate between Serie C and the Primavera team.
However, before the summer tour in the United States, coach Allegri promoted him to the first team. On August 20, 2023, during the match against Udinese, Yildiz made his Serie A debut, coming on for the last 5 minutes in place of Dusan Vlahovic.
Over the following months, Allegri granted him more playing time, but it was in Frosinone, during Chiesa's absence, that he fielded him as a starter from the first minute.
His debut was memorable, as in just 12 minutes he managed to unlock the game with an extraordinary goal: a delightful feint to evade a defender, agility to surpass three opponents, and finally striking with a precise low right shot into the corner, beating goalkeeper Turati.
This goal not only marked a significant moment for Yildiz but also made him enter Juventus history, becoming the youngest foreign scorer for the team at just 18 years and 233 days old.
The extraordinary nature of Kenan Yildiz, destined to leave an indelible mark on the history of Juventus and the Turkish National Team, clearly emerges from his ability to make a difference from his very first opportunity. After his debut under Vincenzo Montella on October 12, 2023, during the away victory against Croatia in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Yildiz showcased his talent by scoring a memorable goal against Germany.
In the context of the Turkish National Team, he contributed significantly to the 3-2 victory, unleashing a masterful curling finish at the far post, a play reminiscent of the legendary Del Piero. His exceptional celebration, with arms wide open and sticking out his tongue, became his trademark, a hallmark that set him apart.
This moment was a turning point, especially in the match against Frosinone, where the entire Juventus fan base realized that Kenan Yildiz is a genuine talent to be preserved and developed. His raw ability was clearly highlighted, and the Juventus faithful began to perceive that Yildiz's future is destined to be extraordinary, a diamond to be carefully shaped and nurtured.
"Out of four balls played, he missed one. He will become a strong player."
Head Coach Massimiliano Allegri
Kenan Yildiz's agent, Hector Peris Ros, revealed an interesting detail to Tuttosport: the eighteen-year-old Turk, after his brilliant performance and goal against Frosinone, was contacted directly by none other than Alex Del Piero. "Kenan and Del Piero have been in direct communication for some time," Yildiz's agent stated. "They even spoke after the goal against Frosinone, a feat that Kenan had replicated countless times during training. Kenan deeply appreciates the value that Del Piero has represented for Juventus and has listened to his valuable advice. He envisions and dreams of charting a similar path."
This direct communication between Kenan Yildiz and the living legend of Juventus, Del Piero, adds another layer of meaning and inspiration to the young Turkish talent's journey, highlighting his respect and aspiration to follow in the footsteps of football greats like Del Piero, who have left an indelible mark in the history of the Bianconeri club.
