Kenan Yıldız possesses exceptional learning speed. The adolescent was enthusiastically acquired by Juventus from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. Yıldız subsequently completed a year of training with Juventus Next Gen, the club’s junior team. In Serie C, Juventus Next Gen was one of the select few organizations to maintain an Under23 squad.

Yudız appeared in 14 appearances for Juve Next Gen prior to being promoted to the first team late last summer. Expectations were high for the young Turk, but after making his debut in the closing minutes of the 3-0 victory over Udinese on the opening day of the season, Max Allegri was not overly impressed.

In his post-match interview, Allegri expressed dissatisfaction with Yıldız’s hands rather than his feet. Allegri stated, “He will cut his hair tomorrow because he has touched it a hundred times; therefore, let’s conduct ourselves properly.” Allegri is an exceptionally pragmatic coach, and Yıldız’s hair was an obstacle to his progress in the eyes of the Tuscan. The 18-year-old Yıldız dutifully complied with the instruction and the next day uploaded a photograph of himself at the barbershop.

Following that, he has not turned back. Nevertheless, the forward has demonstrated patience. Due to Juventus’ absence from European competitions this season, Allegri was not obligated to rotate his squad. Moreover, with players such as Dušan Vlahović, Federico Chiesa, Arkadiusz Milik, and Moise Kean under contract, opportunities were already limited.

Due to the frequent injuries or lack of form of several forwards for Juventus (Vlahović, Kean, Milik), Yıldűz was given an early opportunity to shine against Frosinone in December. He capitalized on this by scoring an outstanding solo goal. Entering the game from the left flank, he deftly crafted the ball past three Frosinone defenders in a confined area before slamming it low and hard into the bottom corner of the goal.

It was an outstanding performance by Yıldız, whose prowess with the ball and eagerness to challenge opponents is comparable to the qualities Chiesa possesses at this time with the Juve squad. Yıldız has started three of Juventus’s last four matches since making his professional debut at Frosinone. His collaboration with Vlahović has enhanced the attacking prowess of Allegri and rendered it less one-dimensional.

Yıldız is proficient not only at arriving off the left flank but also at diving deep, assuming the role of a second striker, and skulking between the lines. When Yiıldız enters Allegri’s 3-5-2 system, the formation changes to 3-5-1-1. The Italian media have drawn parallels between Bianconeri players and Juve icons Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero, both of whom performed admirably as second attackers.

Yıldűz met Frosinone once more this week, this time in the Coppa Italia. Once more, he scored an outstanding goal, this time a debut volley off a floated cross by Weston McKennie. A palpable sense of enthusiasm emanates from Juve supporters whenever Yıldız touches the ball, a phenomenon not witnessed at the club since the height of Paulo Dybala’s career several years ago. Furthermore, according to Turkey U19 technical director Sokyan Basar, Yıldız possesses a greater degree of aptitude than Cristiano Ronaldo, another former Juve forward. Basar remarked, “His technique when the ball is at his feet is far superior to that of the Portuguese.”

In light of Juventus’ precarious financial situation, the Italian publication La Gazzetta Dello Sport (print edition via Paisley Gates) has linked Liverpool with a move for Yıldız. It was speculated earlier in the season that Juve could trade him for approximately $44 million (£34 million/€40 million) to balance the accounts and sign players in January; however, his development since then has rendered that scenario highly improbable. However, the Italian publication posits that the allure and sway of Jürgen Klopp might prove decisive.

Juve would be unable to reject an offer of Yıldız’s value short of an offer of enormous proportions. However, each player has his or her own price, and should Liverpool increase the bar sufficiently, Juve will be unable to decline. The adolescent is still in his infancy, but his potential is enormous and he learns quickly; just ask his barber.