Despite his astronomical price tag, there have been endless rumours that the 19-year-old could make a summer switch to the English top tier.
The Turkish teenager, who extended his contract last August until June 2029, has broken two records at Juventus this term and equalled one impressive feat at the club.
Yildiz was given a chance to play off the shoulder of striker Dusan Vlahovic in his last match. They paired up for the only goal of the game, which handed interim manager Igor Tudor a 1-0 triumph over Genoa on Saturday.
Tudor praised his attackers at the post-match press conference, and enthused: “Kenan [Yildiz] has important skills.”
Indeed his skills are plentiful, although Yildiz still needs tweaking before Juventus can truly command a big bucks transfer. He can be utilised as a secondary striker or on either wing, and usually plays on the left flank for Turkey.
Fast tracked to senior side
German-born Yildiz was lured to the Turin titans from Bayern Munich during summer 2022. Following a season with both the Primavera and Juventus Next Gen teams, he kicked-off his first team career in November 2023.
Under experienced manager Max Allegri for the 2023-24 campaign, Yildiz scored two goals in 27 Serie A appearances and was on target twice from five Coppa Italia outings. Yet he only started 10 matches in all competitions all term.
Yildiz soon became one of Thiago Motta’s favorite players, and was unleashed for all 10 Champions League games this season.
He became the youngest-ever Bianconeri player to score in Europe’s top club competition after opening the scoring after 21 minutes against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven last September. Yildiz and most of the supporters inside the Allianz Stadium went into a wild goal celebration.
Yildiz breaks club records
Juve’s 3-1 success was marred by conceding their first goal of the season, albeit a 93rd-minute consolation strike. Yildiz at 19 years, four months and 13 days old beat the long-standing club record held by his idol Alessandro Del Piero who was 20 years, four months and 10 days.
After Del Piero brilliantly curled his effort into the top corner during Juve’s 3-1 triumph at Borussia Dortmund in September 1995, his strike became known as Gol alla Del Piero. And we all know how well his career went at Juventus.
Although Yildiz failed to find the back of the net during the rest of the Bianconeri’s continental competition, thanks to the hype from Mendes the youngster was attracting column inches in both the British and Italian press about a potential move for at least €90 million (US$97.4m).
Yildiz had already added his name to the club’s record books by becoming the youngster goal scorer in November’s Derby della Mole. His diving header with six minutes remaining earned Juventus a 2-0 home win over Torino.
His high value set by Mendes appears to be overestimated, although Liverpool and Manchester United are allegedly hot on his heels. Other elite English clubs were reported to be monitoring his situation, despite Yildiz not quite being the polished article yet.
Ordinary at times under Motta
Yildiz’s season did not exactly explode under Motta, resulting in four goals from 28 Serie A appearances and some disappointing displays. Yet with Tudor now at the helm, there is a new lease of life, and Yildiz seized his opportunity to impress by bagging the winner with aplomb.
His 25th-minute strike, Yildiz’s fifth league goal this term, earned him a Juventus record-equalling feat with Moise Kean, who was shipped off to Fiorentina during the summer as Motta didn't believe in him. Kean has been red hot this season, and is the second-highest Serie A scorer.
Yildiz’s seventh Serie A goal overall matched Kean’s Juventus record for the most goals scored by a teenager in Serie A’s three-point era.
He is arguably one of the club’s prized assets and sports the legendary no10 Juve jersey. Yildiz follows in the famous footsteps of Turin icons Roberto Baggio, Del Piero and Michel Platini, so has big boots to fill.
Juventus, who have tasked Tudor with the objective of securing a top four finish to achieve Champions League soccer next term, do not wish to relinquish Yildiz this summer regardless of which European competition they compete in next season.
Tudor sparks new life into Juve
Tudor is trying to win over the club during his nine-game Serie A spell in order to negotiate about taking over as head coach next season. He replaced sacked manager Motta, and if Tudor becomes the boss won't want to make the same mistakes on and off the pitch as the ex-Bologna head coach.
Tactically Tudor allows more freedom to players, as demonstrated by Yildiz's role against Genoa. Motta overlooked numerous players, who have proved that his decision to let them leave was wrong. Prime examples are Kean and defender Dean Huijsen, who are thriving.
The club appear to have learned their lesson from allowing Huijsen to slip through their fingers. The 19-year-old recently drafted into the Spanish squad and deemed to be one of Europe’s most exciting talents.
Bianconeri need to keep asset
Amsterdam-born center-back Huijsen came through the Primavera and Next Gen teams exactly a year behind Yildiz. He made his Serie A debut in October 2023, enjoyed a successful loan spell at AS Roma but was not part of Project Motta.
Huijsen signed for Premier League side AFC Bournemouth last July, and has been such a revelation that a clutch of European giants are plotting a move for the Juventus reject.
Yildiz is not quite in the same category as Huijsen in terms of being pushed away. Juventus can already see that if developed by a top-notch coach then Yildiz can truly become something special.
Maybe Mendes is spot on about Yildiz being one of the next soccer superstars. Only time will tell, with Juventus fans and the hierarchy hoping that Yildiz can continue to break club records rather than ply his trade away from Turin.