Juventus Boss Luciano Spalletti Compares Kenan Yildiz to PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus, has drawn a striking comparison between his young forward Kenan Yildiz and Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Italian manager, who coached the Georgian attacker during Napoli’s title-winning 2022-23 season, sees in Yildiz the same rare attacking creativity and unpredictability.

Shared Traits Highlighted by Spalletti

Spalletti admires how Yildiz operates with a similar unpredictable rhythm that defined Kvaratskhelia’s performances at Napoli. Last season, the 21-year-old Turk became a key figure for Juventus, netting 14 goals and providing 10 assists. Unfortunately, his current season has been disrupted by a fractured metatarsal sustained in August, limiting him to just 69 minutes on the pitch so far.

Inventive Instincts That Defy Opposition

The Juventus coach is fascinated by Yildiz’s instinctive brilliance, which often dismantles even the most disciplined defenses in Italy. Speaking to Tuttosport, Spalletti said,

"Yildiz makes football shine. Every move he makes is ingenious and breaks the system. Sometimes even he doesn’t know what he’ll do next. In training, defenders sometimes guess his moves but still can’t stop him. He has the madness of invention. To me, he’s comparable to Kvaratskhelia."

Maturity Beyond His Years

Aside from his technical skills, Spalletti appreciates Yildiz’s calm leadership and maturity when playing beyond set tactical limits. The manager added,

"He needs more game time, but I see similarities in his unpredictability and the way he plays outside the usual rules and timing of football. He’s a lovely guy, the boy next door type, but also a leader who doesn’t need to say much."

Juventus Anticipate Yildiz’s Return

The Bianconeri currently sit seventh in Serie A and will soon face Cagliari after the international break. Spalletti expects Yildiz to be fully fit by December if no further injuries occur. His comeback could bring the spark Juventus needs to push back into the title race.