Juventus' Kenan Yildiz Compared to PSG Star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia by Coach Luciano Spalletti
Luciano Spalletti, Juventus manager, has likened the young Turkish forward Kenan Yildiz to Paris Saint-Germain attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The coach sees a shared attacking brilliance and unpredictability between the two players, recalling his time with the Georgian during Napoli’s championship-winning season.
Similar Traits in Creativity and Style
Spalletti praised Yildiz’s unique style, describing him as an unpredictable player much like Kvaratskhelia was at Napoli in their 2022-23 Serie A title run. Last season, the 21-year-old Yildiz was a key figure for Juventus, recording 14 goals and 10 assists. His progress this campaign has been slowed due to a fractured metatarsal sustained in August, limiting him to only 69 minutes on the pitch so far.
Inventive Genius on Display
The coach admires Yildiz’s instinctive playmaking ability, which can dismantle even the most organized defenses in Italian football. In an interview with Tuttosport, Spalletti explained, “Yildiz makes football shine. His every move is ingenious and breaks the system. When he starts, even he doesn’t necessarily have a plan of what he’ll do next. Sometimes, in training, I see the defenders predict his movement, and they still can’t stop him. He has the madness of invention. For me, he is comparable to Kvaratskhelia.”
Maturity and Quiet Leadership
Beyond his technical talent, Spalletti also values Yildiz’s maturity and calm presence on the field. The manager noted, “He needs to play a bit more, but I see similarities in the unpredictability, the way he stays outside of the rules and timing you expect in football. He’s a lovely guy, the boy next door type, but also a leader – one that doesn’t need to talk much.”
Anticipating Yildiz’s Return to Action
Juventus currently sit seventh in Serie A as they prepare for a challenging away match against Cagliari after the international break. Spalletti will have to wait until at least December for Yildiz’s full recovery, assuming no further setbacks. If his assessment is accurate, the forward’s return could provide the spark Juventus needs to push back into title contention.
