Barcelona will reportedly have to fend off stiff competition from Serie A giants Juventus in the race to sign 17-year-old Turkish wonderkid Kenan Yildiz.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Kenan Yildiz is the subject of interest from Juventus over a possible Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The Serie A giants have joined Barcelona in the race to sign the 17-year-old Turkish wonderkid, who has become a free agent after failing to agree to a new deal with Bayern Munich.
Kenan Yildiz is one of the most promising young playmakers in Europe, with the teenage prodigy going from strength to strength since joining Bayern Munich nearly a decade ago. The player has most recently played for the Bayern Munich under-19 side and enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 season.
Yildiz garnered a solid return of six goals and eight assists in 20 appearances, and his displays have captured the attention of some of the most high-profile clubs in Europe. And with the 17-year-old failing to reach an agreement with Bayern Munich over a renewal, he will leave the Bavarian club as a free agent, with his situation alerting Barcelona and Juventus.
Yildiz has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time, and the Catalan giants have been in talks with him over a Bosman move for months. The Turkish prodigy’s decision to leave Bayern Munich has come as a major boost for Barcelona, who will look to make the teenage wonderkid the latest success story of La Masia.
Juventus have now joined the race to sign Kenan Yildiz on a free transfer for the Youth team. Talented 17 y.o. midfielder has no agreement with Bayern on new deal and Juve are pushing. ???? #transfers
Barcelona, in talks for Yildiz for long time – but also Juve are on it, now. pic.twitter.com/WksBCCCTrX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2022
Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, and Ansu Fati are three academy graduates who have established a foothold in Barcelona’s first-team in the last few years. And with Barcelona not out of the woods yet on the financial front, pursuing Yildiz as a future solution makes sense. But the Blaugrana will have to fend off stiff competition from Juventus to sign the 17-year-old.
Unlike Barcelona, the Serie A giants do not necessarily have an extensive reputation of grooming youngsters to become first-team stars. But they tend to invest in a promising prospect if they see potential in him, with Paul Pogba being the perfect example of that stance from Juventus.
The Serie A giants are pushing to quickly wrap up a free transfer for the 17-year-old Turkish wonderkid. But Barcelona will surely have a lot to say on the matters, and it will be interesting to see where Yildiz goes next after leaving Bayern Munich.