u/TrunkOfDellGriffith

Turkish National Team coach Vincenzo Montella spoke to Sky Sport before the Europa League final in Istanbul. Regarding Kenan Yıldız, he stressed that “Yıldız, at 21 years old, is experiencing this for the first time, so enthusiasm is essential. We’re worried about the knee issue that’s keeping him from training at 100%, and I hope he can be physically well.”

He also explained that Hakan Çalhanoğlu will not take part in Inter’s final Serie A match against Bologna, adding that he is grateful to Inter for allowing the player to join the national team early so they can assess his physical condition. Montella said he hopes Çalhanoğlu will regain the right form in time for the World Cup.

Tuttosport published a piece examining the recent decline in Yıldız's performance. According to the report, Yıldız is untouchable regardless of Juventus’ qualification status in European competitions. It was noted that, although the decline in his performance coinciding with his contract renewal is probably just a coincidence, it does not change the fact that he hasn’t scored for almost two months. The outlet reported that Yıldız’s knee situation is not worrying and it has been improving according to their sources in JMedical. It argues that the decline may be due to physiological factors rather than any lingering physical problem, considering that he just turned 21 and his body and mind are adjusting to his heavy responsibilities. The newspaper added that he wears Juve’s iconic number 10, which carries high expectations due to its earlier bearers, but he does that in a team without leaders and with no personality, noting that it may be too much even for an undeniable talent. It was also noted that there may be pressure from the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The article observed that Yıldız genuinely seemed sad and disappointed after the Fiorentina defeat, which shows that he is fully invested in the current rebuild of Juventus that will start from scratch “again”. According to the coverage, he is key to Juventus’ marketing strategy and he will still be the center of the project, but the supporting cast around him should improve as well. The outlet reiterated that he is already watched by Real Madrid closely and if he shines on the FIFA World Cup, this would put him on Premier League clubs’ radar as well.

The report noted that Kenan Yıldız is still highly regarded by the club ownership and management and also by Spalletti, who always praised his technical and moral qualities, his humility and his positive role in the dressing room.

La Gazzetta dello Sport evaluated Yıldız’s situation at Juventus after a 2-0 defeat against Fiorentina, which would most likely cause them to lose their Champions League spot for the upcoming season unless a miracle happens. The newspaper drew attention to his after-game images that show him almost in tears and all alone on the Juventus bench after the final whistle, knowing that they were almost out of the Champions League race.

The newspaper noted that Yıldız had been goalless for almost two months and had been suffering from patellar tendinopathy since the beginning of the season and continued to play full-time in that condition until he could not anymore, which was reflected in his recent poor performances and his loss of agility and speed. The article shut down the rumors regarding him not being committed because of the upcoming World Cup, stating that he is a serious and committed player who continued to play for the Champions League spot despite his physical discomfort.  The paper insisted that his relationship with Spalletti is excellent, giving examples from their mutual statements about each other.

In the article, it was reported that Yıldız’s performance directly affects Juve’s results by pointing out that he has produced 23 goals and 19 assists across his 99 matches, and when he contributes to a goal, the team collects points at a rate typical of a title contender, but their average drops to the level of a mid‑table side when he doesn’t influence the scoreline.  The article argued that his contract extension was not premature and that it was aligned with his abilities and his status within the team. It was noted that nothing is certain regarding Yıldız’s stay in Juventus despite him being contractually tied to Juventus until 2030, since not being able to play in the Champions League could complicate things. The paper argued that he may not be the star in other teams as he is in Juve since there are players who have better stats in his position in those top clubs in Europe.

The outlet reported that Yıldız’s stats with 23 goals and 19 assists are very similar to Alex Del Piero’s stats with 25 goals and 19 assists at his age after the first two full seasons in the first team. However, it pointed out that Del Piero won his Champions League title and was nominated twice for Ballon d’or at his age.

The preliminary squad of Turkish National Team, which will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been announced. The squad includes Kenan Yıldız and two other Serie A players, Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Roma’s Zeki Çelik. The tournament will be hosted jointly by the USA, Canada and scheduled to take place between June 11 and July 19.

Goal Keepers

Altay Bayındır- Manchester United (England)

Uğurcan Çakır - Galatasaray (Türkiye )

Ersin Destanoğlu - Beşiktaş (Türkiye )

Mert Günok - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Muhammed Şengezer - Başakşehir (Türkiye )

Defenders

Samet Akaydın - ÇAYKUR Rizespor (Türkiye )

Yusuf Akçiçek - Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Abdülkerim Bardakcı - Galatasaray (Türkiye )

Zeki Çelik - Roma (Italy)

Merih Demiral - Al‑Ahli (Saudi Arabia)

Eren Elmalı - Galatasaray (Türkiye )

Mustafa Eskihellaç - Trabzonspor (Türkiye )

Ozan Kabak - TSG Hoffenheim (Germany)

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - Brighton & Hove Albion (England)

Ahmetcan Kaplan - NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)

Mert Müldür - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Çağlar Söyüncü - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Midfielders

Kaan Ayhan - Galatasaray (Türkiye )

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - Inter Milan (Italy)

Arda Güler - Real Madrid (Spain)

Atakan Karazor - VfB Stuttgart (Germany)

Orkun Kökçü - Beşiktaş (Portugal)

Salih Özcan - Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Aral Şimşir - Midtjylland (Denmark)

Demir Ege Tıknaz - Sporting Braga (Portugal)

İsmail Yüksek - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Forwards

Yunus Akgün - Galatasaray (Türkiye)

Kerem Aktürkoğlu - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Oğuz Aydın - Fenerbahçe (Türkiye )

Deniz Gül - FC Porto (Portugal)

İrfan Can Kahveci - Kasımpaşa (Türkiye )

Yusuf Sarı - Başakşehir (Türkiye )

Can Uzun - Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Kenan Yıldız - Juventus (Italy)

Match Result:  Juventus 0 -Fiorentina 2

Yıldız earned an average rating of 5.5 after combining data from major soccer stat sites and Italian press. Here’s a quick summary:

SofaScore: 7.0

FotMob:  7.5

Sky Sports: 5.5

Corriere della Sera:  4.5

Corriere dello Sport: 5.0

Tuttosport: 4.5

La Gazetta Dello Sport:  4.5

***

Corriere della Sera said that his energy was extremely low, even below the minimum. The report added that, even though he managed a small push in the first half and another in the second, the smooth, winding movements once he had were completely lost, like tears in the rain. Corriere dello Sport said that the Turkish player’s eclipse, caused by his inflamed knee, had marked Juventus’ dip in form over the previous month. Tuttosport  wrote that it had been just one shot, neutralized without much trouble by the Spanish goalkeeper, and little else, adding that it seemed the player already had his mind on the World Cup. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported it just wasn’t his day and said he had hunched over, trying to find an opening that wasn’t there, only to end up running straight into a wall.

***

Stats:

89 Minutes

xG - 0.15

xGOT - 0.03

xA - 0.23

xG + xA - 0.38

Goals - 0

Assists - 0

Key Passes - 3

Shots on target - 2/4

Pass Accuracy - 80%

Touches - 51

Dribbles - 1/4

Tackles - 2/2

Clearances - 0

Recoveries - 6

Duels - 6/12

Alessandro Del Piero, who played in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups and won the tournament in 2006, gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport. When the reporter asked which players excited him in the upcoming world cup, pointing out that the World Cup offered young creative talents such as Cherki, Nico Paz and Arda Güler, he said: “Those three for sure. Then Yıldız with Türkiye. Every national team has players with great creativity and imagination. It’s about discovering them and watching them closely. Yıldız excites me.” According to him, it was impossible to know who would win the World Cup, as he mentioned Spain, France, Germany, Argentina and Brazil as the favourites, while noting that Portugal and England were flying under the radar.

He also talked about the situation in Serie A. The games on this Sunday are very crucial since it’s crunch time in Serie A for the Champions League spot. Juventus, Napoli, Milan, Como, and Roma are the teams fighting for the remaining three UCL spots and all of them will play their matches at the same hour. Del Piero also had absolutely no idea who would go to UCL. He said that the issue was far too complicated and that one would need to be inside every team to understand their real situation. He added that nothing in football is guaranteed and anyone could drop points even against teams with nothing left to play for, giving Juventus’ draw against Verona as an example. According to him, the congestion in the standings made everything even more exciting.

Which is your favorite team and who is your favorite player for the World Cup? Which teams do you think will get the UCL spot in Serie A?

Ziraat Bankkart Ankara’s team captain Nimir Abdel-Aziz and middle blocker Bedirhan Bülbül met with Kenan Yıldız at the Juventus facilities, creating a warm moment of support ahead of their major European challenge. Weston McKennie was also there to welcome the players. Yıldız gave them his signed shirt, got their shirt with his name on it and received an invitation to watch the match. He said it would likely be impossible, as they are required to be at the Juventus facilities that day in preparation for the crucial home game against Fiorentina scheduled for Sunday.

Ziraat Bankkart Ankara is in Turin for the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 Final Four, held at Inalpi Arena. The semifinals take place on 16 May 2026 in the evening, where Ziraat faces Warta Zawiercie. The final is scheduled for 17 May 2026. This tournament is the top club competition in European volleyball, and reaching the Final Four marks a major milestone for Ziraat Bankkart Ankara.

The Meet & Greet event at the Allianz Stadium Megastore featured Juventus players Pinsoglio, Koopmeiners, and Kenan Yıldız, who greeted supporters and signed the newly released team kits. A large number of fans attended. The event also included a brief media session in which Yıldız answered questions from the press. Here are some excerpts from that interview:

Reporter: How is your knee feeling now? We heard you reduced your training load and did some physiotherapy to manage it. How do you deal with it during matches, especially when the fatigue sets in?

Yıldız: I don’t really like discussing my knee in front of the cameras. It was a minor problem, but it is fine now.

Reporter: I obviously love getting new kits right away for next season. Two delicate matches are coming up which will be fundamental for Juventus to be in the Champions League.

Yıldız: I’m ready for them. There’s a bit of pressure with all the people outside, but we’re calm. They’re two important games, and we’ll do our job with our coach.

Reporter: We’re getting to the end of the season, it’s been an intense year; not just physically, but mentally as well. Let me ask you: how are you doing, how do you feel, and what messages has Spalletti given you these days?

Yıldız: Of course, it is been a very long season, a tough one too, but it is not over yet. That’s why we keep pushing hard. The coach is always with us, always straight with us, always giving 100%, even today. That’s the maximum you can ask for.

Reporter: You’ve scored 19 goals in Serie A with Juventus, right? You’re one away from reaching 20. Have you thought about that number? It’s a nice milestone and also because you have never scored against Fiorentina.

Yıldız: I didn’t know that, sorry, I really didn’t know. But yes, it would be a nice goal.

Reporter: Listen, Kenan, everyone has always talked about the Champions League as the objective. At one point you were behind and things were looking bad. It’s true that there’s still an objective to reach, but now even second place has become close, and that would give a completely different look to this season. Is that an objective?

Yıldız: The objective is always the maximum. And right now, the maximum is second place. We’ll try for the second place and for the Champions League.

Reporter: You’re signing autographs for the fans. You’re obviously a symbol of this Juve now; the Number 10, launching the new kit. Do you feel this is a Juventus more and more at your level, one where you can give your best and be the leader?

Yıldız: Yes, of course. Seeing all these people here for me and for the other players is a great sign. I always give my best for the fans, for the club. That’s the only thing I can do.

Reporter: The other day, John Elkann spoke to the fans and mentioned two or three people when talking about the future. Yours and Spalletti’s name were among them. Do you feel more and more like the future of this Juventus? A Juventus that can fight for the top sooner or later?

Yıldız: Of course. Juve is in my heart. I thank him for saying those things, but like I said before, the only thing I can do is always give my maximum for myself, for the team, and for Juventus, which is in my heart.

Reporter: Did you tell Vlahović that he has to stay?

Yıldız: Yes, but that’s not something I can decide.

Juventus introduced the Juventus Home Jersey 26/27, available now.

During post-match press conference after Lecce-Juventus game, Spalletti said that the team picked up the tension he felt entire week because of the game that they played against Verona on Sunday and he considered that as a positive sign. He explained that players’ strong start and the personality they showed on the pitch reflected the right attitude but the team still fluctuated between dominance and sudden drops in focus causing turning simple situations into complicated ones and that allowed Lecce back into the game. He insisted that the victory was deserved despite the fluctuations and praised several aspects of the performance, complimenting his players.

He reiterated that he had requested a physical center‑forward upon joining the club, though the club had not been able to acquire one at the time. He added that the team also lacked a creative or consolidating presence between the lines, whether a second striker, attacking midfielder, or technically gifted player in tight spaces, something that had been evident in the many situations near the edge of the box where simple choices became complicated. He described Vlahović as a strong, well‑defined specialist who excelled in his role because it matched his natural qualities.

Regarding the second disallowed goal, the coach said that in cases decided by mere centimeters, it was essential to see both the exact moment the ball left the passer’s foot and how the offside line was drawn. He acknowledged that the system for setting the line was precise but stressed that both elements had to be evaluated together.

One of the reporters asked how Yıldız was doing, pointing the impression was that he did everything he could to be involved, but then there were certain things he wanted to do but couldn't quite pull off, Spaletti said: “In my opinion, he played a great match tonight. I even kept him on the pitch too long. But he made four or five long runs tracking his full‑back, fighting for the ball, and he has to do that, because he must, even if it penalizes him on the other side of the pitch. Because if he doesn’t make those runs, then the opponents gain an advantage in that single episode, because you’re missing the work of a player who becomes fundamental for the team’s balance. But tonight, I found again the Yıldız I was expecting in many phases of play.”

 

Match Result: Lecce 0 -Juventus 1

Yıldız earned an average rating of 6.3 after combining data from major soccer stat sites and Italian press. Here’s a quick summary:

SofaScore: 7.0

FotMob: 7.5

Sky Sports: 6.0

Corriere della Sera: 6.0

Corriere dello Sport: 6.0

Tuttosport: 5.5

La Gazetta Dello Sport: 6.0

***

Corriere della Sera reported that it had been without water for almost fifty days and that it was turning on only intermittently. Corriere dello Sport wrote that it was a version of Kenan that finally looked real; more lively, involved, and inspired compared to his recent underwhelming performances caused by physical issues. The newspaper added that he was improving only in small steps, and that this was why he faded toward the end. It noted that his offensive output amounted to just a weak right‑footed shot. Tuttosport suggested that Yıldız’s underwhelming performance might be attributed to his poor physical condition or perhaps the high expectations for him to always produce a decisive play. The publication remarked that he was not performing at his best and, furthermore, noted that he failed to get the rest of the team functioning effectively. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Yıldız becomes a major problem for any opponent who allows him space to move. The publication noted that he effectively put Danilo Veiga through the "meat grinder" during their duels. Regarding his physical condition, the analysis observed that his stamina held up for nearly an hour this time; however, he eventually ran out of steam and faded from the match before being substituted.

***

Stats:

83 Minutes

xG - 0.16

xGOT - 0.0

xA - 0.21

xG + xA - 0.37

Goals - 0

Assists - 0

Key Passes - o

Shots on target - 0/2

Pass Accuracy - 88%

Touches - 71

Dribbles - 1/6

Tackles - 6/8

Clearances - 1

Recoveries - 5

Duels - 10/19

Juventus

• Reached 19 career Serie A goals at the age of 20 years and 321 days, surpassing Alessandro Del Piero for the 4th-most goals scored by a teenager/U21 player in Juventus history, in Juventus’ 1–1 draw against Sassuolo on 21 March 2026.
• Signed his contract extension on 7 February 2026.
• Reached 100 Juventus appearances in the Champions League Phase away match against Bodø/Glimt on 25 November 2025.
• Was nominated for the 2025 Kopa Trophy and eventually finished in 5th place on 22 September 2025.
• Wore the Juventus captain’s armband for the first time in a 1–1 Serie A draw against Hellas Verona on 20 September 2025.
• Scored his Club World Cup goal on his Club World Cup debut against Wydad AC on 22 June 2025.
• Received the first red card of his professional career against Monza on 27 April 2025.
• Scored on his Italian Super Cup debut in Juventus’ 1–2 loss to AC Milan on 3 January 2025.
• Received the Juventus No. 10 shirt ahead of the 2024–25 season.
• Won the Golden Boy Web Award on 27 November 2024.
• Scored on his Champions League debut in Juventus’ 3–1 win over PSV, becoming the youngest Juventus player ever to score in the competition, on 17 September 2024.
• Scored on his Coppa Italia debut during a 6–1 Round of 16 victory against Salernitana, coming off the bench to score a spectacular solo goal in the 88th minute on 4 January 2024.
• Scored his first goal for the Juventus first team on 23 December 2023 in a 2–1 Serie A victory against Frosinone, making him the youngest foreign goal scorer in the club’s history at 18 years and 233 days old.
• Was officially promoted to the Juventus first team in November 2023.
• Made his Juventus first-team debut vs. Udinese in Serie A (3–0 win) on 20 August 2023.
• Scored his first-ever professional goal, a long‑distance strike vs. Ancona (2–1 win), on 23 September 2023.
• Made his professional debut for Juventus Next Gen vs. Virtus Verona, coming on in the 61st minute on 16 December 2022.

 

Bayern Munich

• Became a free agent in July 2022 at 17 years old after spending 10 years at Bayern Munich.
• Played for Bayern Munich U19 in the 2021–22 season.
• Played for Bayern Munich U17 in 2021.
• Joined the youth academy of Bayern Munich in 2012 at the age of 7.

 

Turkish National Team

• Played for the Turkish National Team at EURO 2024 when he was 19 years and 45 days old.
• Scored his first goal for the Turkish National Team against Germany in an international friendly on 18 November 2023.
• Played for Türkiye’s senior men’s team in the 2023–24 season.
• Played for Türkiye U21 in the 2022–23 season.
• Played for Türkiye U17 in the 2021–22 season.

During the press conference, Spalletti seemed disappointed with the match. He accepted that things have become more complicated after drawing against Verona at home, in front of the fans.

When he was asked whether the enthusiasm of the fans about the possibility of catching up with Milan put extra pressure on the players, he said that when the team doesn’t manage the game, their opponents can put them in difficulty if they are good at exploiting those moments. He added that he had highlighted the dangers of matches like this throughout the week, pointing out that nothing is already won in football and that being committed, consistent, in control, concentrating, and staying alert for the unexpected are the key elements to winning a game. According to him, the match was not lost due to a lack of effort, but because of a lapse in mental patience after conceding and a technical inability to break down a compact defense without a dedicated playmaker. He noted that Yıldız handled that role fairly well but had already spent a lot of energy. He pointed out that costly turnovers and failing to attack free space or execute simple, decisive passes near the goal prevented the team from scoring. Regarding Vlahović, he said he was impressed not just with his goal but also with his immediate display of character and personality. He added that although the team’s late‑game fitness, character, and tactical pressure were encouraging, the performance was irrelevant because they failed to secure the win.

When he was asked whether maturity is a skill you can learn or something that only comes with time and experience, he said that the team is mature in their abilities but fails to recognize the moment when what they know and have is no longer enough. The team needs to understand that they must do something different from their usual qualities. He pointed out that they all have good human qualities, but they need to have that sharp edge in moments like these, and they should get back to work instead of complaining during the game when something goes wrong. He said they missed the chance to secure a Champions League spot with this match, and now there is no room for error in the remaining games.

Match Result: Juventus 1 - Hellas Verona 1

Yıldız earned an average rating of 5.9 after combining data from major soccer stat sites and Italian press. Here’s a quick summary:

SofaScore: 7.0
FotMob: 7.4
Sky Sports: 5.5
Corriere della Sera: 5.5
Corriere dello Sport: 5.5
Tuttosport: 5.5
La Gazetta Dello Sport:  *.*

***

Corriere della Sera reported that although he was tough, his usual sharpness was diminished because of his shaky physical condition. Corriere dello Sport wrote that Yıldız, returning to the starting lineup after three weeks, had tried to find a spark, but it hadn’t been his day either. Tuttosport said that his stamina had been so low that it had forced him to ration his plays to the bare minimum, and that apart from a couple of early dribbles he had vanished from the radar, leading Juve to stop looking for him. La Gazetta dello Sport reported that he was completely exhausted and unable to keep up, to the point where even repeated attempts to push forward ended in failure.

***

Stats:

90 Minutes
xG - 0.03
xGOT - 0.0
xA - 0.12
xG + xA - 0.15
Goals - 0
Assists - 0
Key Passes - 2
Shots on target - 0/2
Pass Accuracy - 82%
Touches - 68
Dribbles - 3/6
Tackles - 0/0
Recoveries - 5
Duels - 6/10

During the press conference before Verona match, when one of the reporters during the press conference, noting how unusual it was for such a young player to describe his relationship with his coach as “fantastic,” asked whether the coach had experienced a similar bond with other young players in his career and what he valued most in Yıldız on a human and character level beyond technical qualities, he said:

“It has happened because my job depends on these kinds of connections professionally. On a personal level, it is only about these connections. I like building a relationship with my players, sharing ideas, explaining certain things and seeing that we can take the best of what is needed for the good of the club, the good of the team, the good of our fans, the good of everyone who loves this sport. There are people with whom it becomes easier because they have human qualities, a sense of team, a sense of friendship, a sense of love, a sense of wanting to share the entire professional journey. And he is one of those. He is one of those who has the sun stamped on his face in terms of his reactions. Even when he has not been going through a favorable moment, he always has this positive, willing expression, this desire to transmit what it means to be a happy, positive person. And that is how he is right now, but he is already projected into the future. He transforms the moment he is in and improves it with his way of being. I have had the good fortune of meeting his family, a wonderful family, and you can see the qualities he has through his family. He has everything. His teammates adore him because of the way he relates to people. If you see him leaving the training ground, he is one of those who stops the most. Sometimes, because of schedules or commitments, someone might not stop but he is one of the ones who consistently does. On Saturdays, when we arrive at the hotel and the fans are waiting, he does everything: photos, autographs, whatever is asked. And he is happy to do it. He does it without any hint of boredom. He is thrilled, just like everyone else is. Of course, there are timings to respect, but he is already a champion who makes me feel lucky to coach him.”

Another reporter, pointing out Yıldız’s toughness in playing through a long‑standing issue and recalling an episode in which Yıldız insisted he was available despite doubts, asked whether the recent management of the player was due to a worsening of the problem or simply a natural concern about avoiding injury with the World Cup approaching. Spalletti replied: 

“No, it is something that is being evaluated in a complete and correct way, especially with regard to the boy’s health. We know and he knows how important he is for us. We know that he wants to be available and we want him to be available. However, he had this small inflammation that can get worse or can get better, so it’s a matter of managing it even though in these last training sessions, including today’s and yesterday’s, he did very well. He doesn’t feel any pain, and we have no doubts about his presence in the match.”