Kenan Yıldız: The Juventus' wonderkid who models his game after Alessandro Del Piero

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There is no doubt that Germany is already thinking that Kenan Yıldız is a player who got away. A feeling that will be even more pronounced after the 18-year-old scored an incredible goal for Turkey in a friendly against Germany on Saturday (2-3). That goal has made Yıldız one of the most searched players on all Transfermarkt domains and, without a doubt, will also lead to some regrets within the DFB that they were unable to win the forward for their side. After all, the Juventus talent was born in Regensburg to a Turkish father and German mother and spent several years within the Bayern Munich academy. 

Market Value

K. Yıldız Second Striker

€30.00m

“It was weird leaving Bayern after such a long time,” Yıldız said to the German paper Bild in an interview. “I had to think about that step for a long time, but Juventus offered the best sporting perspective. Following the game against Germany, there has been significant criticism towards Bayern and the DFB for letting Yıldız slip away. Former director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic and squad planer Marco Neppe, who is still with the club, were the decision-makers at Bayern when Yıldız left. “They wanted to keep me,” Yıldız said in the interview with Bild. “But it was time to leave Munich, and the transfer to Turin was the best option.” 

After scoring 11 goals and seven assists in 30 league games for the U19 last season, the forward was promoted to the first team this season, where he has already managed five short appearances in the Serie A. “He will have a brilliant future,” Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri said when asked about Yıldız recently. “That highlights that I am on the right path,” the 18-year-old said when confronted with that statement. Yıldız did, however, admit that the step from the academy to the first team has been significant. “I was over the moon when I found out that I was included on the US trip with the first team last summer,” Yıldız said. “I always watched the first team as a fan on television and now suddenly Chiesa and Vlahovic were giving me tips. That is a ton of fun.” 

Kenan Yıldız celebrating his goal for Turkey against Germany

Yıldız: Juventus’ financial problems opened the door for next Del Piero 

Juventus’ financial problems have been a significant opportunity for younger players like Yıldız as the club looks to promote talents from the second team, which plays in the Serie C and directly from the academy. “I wasn’t nervous once I was on the pitch; I can switch all that off,” Yıldız said when asked about his first team debut. The goal is now to gain more regular playing time. “I want to show in training that I deserve to play more, and I certainly believe that I have the ability to play more.” 

But what can we expect from Yıldız going forward? “I see him as a big talent with a similar potential to Real Madrid’s Arda Güler,” Transfermarkt’s lead of content for Turkey, Lara Karacan, said. “His strengths are his speed, one-v-one situations, and the fact that he is variable and can play every position in the attack. Yıldız is also dangerous in front of the goal, and his perseverance, especially for his age, is incredible.” The latter could be seen in his goal against Germany, where he broke in from the right and then scored with an incredible shot that came off the post to beat goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. He then celebrated the goal by sticking out his tongue, something that he has copied from former Juve star Alessandro del Piero. According to Karacan, the player that Yıldız models his game after. 

Player Comparison

Kenan Yıldız

Alessandro Del Piero

Juventus FC

Retired

€30.00m

Market Value

-

18

Age

49

Second Striker

Position

Second Striker

Jun 30, 2027

Contract until

-

Full Player Comparison

“Together with Güler, Yıldız is the biggest talent in Turkish football, especially as they both have already managed to make a name for themselves,” Karacan said. “You have to keep in mind, though, that both are still only 18; that is very young.” Even though they have already featured for Turkey, Güler and Yıldız are yet to break into the first teams of their respective club teams. The same can’t be said for Turkey, where Vincenzo Montella is looking to integrate both quickly. At least in Yıldız’s case, this might also be a mechanism to ensure that the player will continue to represent Turkey rather than Germany. A strategy that looks to pay off for Turkish football, as Yıldız’s goal against the country of his birth illustrates.