Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti likens Kenan Yildiz’s creativity and unpredictability to that of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
As Juventus heads into the international break sitting seventh in Serie A, they recently secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, recovering from a previous 3-2 loss to Sassuolo.
This season, Yildiz has played only one match for a total of 69 minutes following surgery for a fractured metatarsal in August, and he is not expected to return until next month.
Last season, the Turkish international was standout among his teammates, scoring 14 goals and providing 10 assists, leading the team in both statistics.
He also registered the highest number of chances created (100) and both attempted (220) and successfully completed (105) dribbles for Juventus, prompting Spalletti to draw comparisons to another skillful forward he has coached.
During the 2022-23 season, Spalletti worked with Kvaratskhelia at Napoli, where the Georgian contributed 14 goals and the same number of assists, playing a key role in the team winning the Scudetto.
“Yildiz brings brilliance to football,” Spalletti told Tuttosport, noting that his innovative movements often catch defenders off guard.
“He operates without a clear plan, which makes him difficult to defend against. He possesses a creative flair reminiscent of Kvaratskhelia.”
“While he needs more playing time, both players share a knack for unpredictability and defying expectations in football.”
“He’s a great guy—easy to approach and a quiet leader.”
Juventus will return to play after the international hiatus next Sunday, facing Cagliari, who are currently one point ahead in the standings.
Fan Take: This comparison between Yildiz and Kvaratskhelia signals that Juventus may be nurturing a future star who could revolutionize their attacking play. For soccer fans, this is exciting as it showcases the potential for fresh talent to impact top-tier leagues and adds an element of unpredictability to the game.
Source: www.soccernews.com
