Luciano Spalletti is waiting for him, and with him the millions of Juventus fans. Since August, Juventus have had to do without Kenan Yıldız, their brightest star. It is worth remembering this every now and then, Tuttosport says, because the manager has never looked for alibis, but not having the number 10 for three months has been a heavy blow to absorb.
The moment of the great return is approaching with long strides. It will not come immediately after the international break, but the month is now certain.
“In December”
The player himself has said so. Yıldız sees the moment of his return to the pitch finally approaching after being sidelined by the foot fracture suffered in the first league match, at Frosinone. Asked when he could be available for Spalletti again, the Turkish talent answered “in December.” He said it at the presentation of the Bulgarelli Number 8 award, held in the Cappella Farnese in Palazzo d’Accursio in Bologna, in front of several figures from the football world.
For Yıldız it was a chance to update everyone on his recovery and to show again how much he wants to return as soon as possible, with the necessary caution to avoid risks. The headline quote carries his message: “I feel good and I miss it a lot. I can’t wait to play again.”
The Date: Monza in Sight
Tuttosport’s headline says Yıldız has returned to training, and a linked section looks at the possible return dates, with Monza in the crosshairs. That matches the earlier report that his comeback could coincide with the home match against Monza on 14 December.
If so, he would return after the November international break and the run of fixtures that follows it. That includes the Venezia home match on 22 November, and the other matches in the tour de force Spalletti has been managing.
Why It Matters
The timing is significant for several reasons covered in this period. Capello called him “Italy’s Yamal” at the award ceremony and said Yıldız’s injury had exposed problems that his quality had been hiding. Cabrini said the absence of the number 10 was the single biggest factor in the team’s struggles, comparing it with an Inter without Lautaro. Bava’s economic analysis tied the club’s finances partly to avoiding a forced sale of Yıldız, a player valued at around €100 million.
The return also affects the January window. If the number 10 is back and fit by mid-December, the attacking priorities Juventus set for the market may change in emphasis, though the need for a true centre-forward would remain.
