Khephren Thuram showed his playful side in a light-hearted interview with DAZN, where the Juventus midfielder imagined himself as Santa Claus, picking out Christmas gifts for his teammates — and even for his brother, Marcus, who plays for Inter.
The Gifts for His Teammates
“For Di Gregorio, I’d give a speaker for music,” Thuram joked. “For Cambiaso, a razor — so he can shave properly!”
The Frenchman continued with a grin, showing no shortage of creativity when it came to the rest of the squad.
“To McKennie, I’d offer a golf club, and for Kalulu, a ticket to Dubai. For Yildiz? I don’t know — he always asks, and I always give him something!”
“To My Brother, a Juventus Shirt”
When the conversation turned to his brother Marcus, currently a star with rivals Inter Milan, Khephren didn’t hesitate.
“A gift for my brother? A Juventus shirt — with ‘Thuram 19’ on the back.”
“Playing Where My Father Made History”
Speaking with former Juventus midfielder Hernanes, Thuram also reflected on the significance of continuing his family’s legacy with the Bianconeri.
“Playing at my dad’s club? It’s really special. It’s a beautiful story — my father played here, he won here, he was one of the best defenders to ever play here. I hope I can also win one day wearing this shirt. My dad is a Juventus fan, but he’s really happy that my brother plays for Inter — it’s the right club for him, and Juve is the right one for me.”
The Juventus–Inter Duel Between Brothers
Thuram also recalled the emotional night when both he and Marcus scored in the Juventus–Inter clash earlier this season — a moment that quickly became a family affair.
“It was a great moment — he scored, I scored, and in the end, we won. About the celebration when I said ‘I am Thuram’? Yes, because after the match people said my brother didn’t celebrate that way, but it’s not true. I saw him — he went to the Juve fans and did the ‘I am Thuram’ gesture. That made me angry… so my celebration was an answer to him!”
“I Want to Improve My Shooting”
“I want to improve my shooting. I don’t know if I’m one of the best yet, but I try to work on everything during training. You have to know where you’re strong and where you’re not, and then work on it. There are so many things to get better at on the pitch. The most important thing is to improve your strengths — that’s what defines you — but you can’t afford to be weak in other areas.”
The Influence of His Father and Mentors
“He’s like a normal dad — when he sees something good, he tells us,” Thuram explained. “He watches us like any father would, but since he was a footballer, he goes into more detail. He helps me a lot; I have to listen — I can’t choose not to listen!”
“Henry has always given me advice too — I had him as a coach. He’s more calm, while my dad gets angry a bit faster. Vieira has helped me a lot as well.”
“My Trademark Move”
“When I have the ball at my feet and can go on a run, not every midfielder can do that. It takes a bit of technique and speed. If you’re fast, it’s easier. You have to understand the right moments. I can feel the vibration of the stadium; the energy comes from the fans and from my teammates. When Kenan dribbles, it gives us all energy — I like doing those things too because I know they give courage to the others.”
“Juventus Is the Best Club in Italy”
“For me, Juve are the best club in Italy — one of the best in the world. Juventus is a way of life. When you’re here, you have to behave in a certain way — you have to sleep Juventus, eat Juventus. Here you train differently to other clubs. I’ve played for Nice and Monaco, and you can really feel the difference. Juve is a way of being — that’s something my dad made me understand. At Juventus, you play to win. I’ve been here for a year and a half now, and I see it every single day.”
