Luciano Spalletti Compares Juventus' Kenan Yildiz to PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Spalletti Draws Parallels Between Yildiz and Kvaratskhelia

Luciano Spalletti, the manager of Juventus, has praised young forward Kenan Yildiz, likening his attacking style to that of Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The coach previously worked with the Georgian winger during their successful title run at Napoli in the 2022-23 season and sees a similar creative spark in Yildiz.

Shared Traits in Attack

Spalletti highlighted how both players display an unpredictable style that confounds defenders. He pointed out that Yildiz operates on a level of inventiveness and spontaneity reminiscent of Kvaratskhelia’s approach during Napoli’s championship-winning campaign. Last season, Yildiz was a key player for Juventus, scoring 14 goals and assisting 10 times. Unfortunately, his current season has been disrupted due to a fractured metatarsal suffered in August, limiting him to just 69 minutes on the pitch.

Inventive Playstyle Praised

The Juventus coach expressed admiration for Yildiz's instinctive play, which often breaks down even the most disciplined defenses in Serie A. Speaking to Tuttosport, Spalletti said, "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 Beyond His Years

Beyond his technical skills, Spalletti also values Yildiz's calm demeanor and leadership qualities on and off the pitch. The manager elaborated, "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."

Juventus Awaits Yildiz's Return

Currently sitting seventh in Serie A, Juventus face a challenging match against Cagliari after the international break. Spalletti will have to wait until at least December for Yildiz to return fully fit, assuming no further injuries occur. Should the forward regain form as expected, his presence could provide the vital attacking boost Juventus needs to push back into the title race.

• Player: Kenan Yildiz
• Manager: Luciano Spalletti
• Comparison: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
• Last Season Stats: 14 goals, 10 assists
• Current Injury: Fractured metatarsal (August)
• Minutes Played This Season: 69
• Juventus Serie A Standing: 7th
• Expected Return: December