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

Luciano Spalletti, Juventus manager, has likened young forward Kenan Yildiz to Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, emphasizing their shared creativity and unpredictable attacking style. Spalletti previously coached the Georgian winger during Napoli’s 2022-23 Serie A-winning season and sees a similar spark in the Turkish talent now at Juventus.

Unpredictable Style Shines Through

Spalletti praised Yildiz for his ability to break down even well-organized defenses in Italy. In an interview with Tuttosport, he described Yildiz as a player whose moves are ingenious and spontaneous: "Yildiz makes football shine. Every action he takes disrupts the system. Even he sometimes doesn’t know what he'll do next. Defenders might anticipate his moves in training, but they still can’t stop him. He has the madness of invention. For me, he is comparable to Kvaratskhelia."

Maturity Beyond His Years

The coach also highlighted Yildiz’s quiet leadership and maturity on the pitch despite his young age. Spalletti added, "He needs more playing time, but I see similarities in how unpredictable he is, how he operates outside the usual timing and rules of football. He’s a great guy, the boy next door type, yet also a leader who doesn’t need to speak much."

Injury Setback and Return Timeline

After a strong 2025-26 season where Yildiz scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists, his progress was halted by a fractured metatarsal in August, restricting him to only 69 minutes so far this campaign. Juventus currently stand seventh in Serie A and face Cagliari after the international break. The club awaits Yildiz’s full recovery, expected no sooner than December, hoping his return will boost their bid to challenge for the title again.

• Player: Kenan Yildiz
• Manager: Luciano Spalletti
• Comparison Player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Last season stats: 14 goals, 10 assists
• Injury: Fractured metatarsal (August)
• Current Serie A standing: 7th place
• Expected return: December 2026