He has the clean face of a teenager and the fierce determination of a top professional — all packed into 186 centimetres of lean, quick-footed brilliance that works equally well with both feet. Kerim Alajbegovic announced himself in Australia and is now returning to Turin ready to announce himself to the Allianz Stadium. Spalletti is delighted with what he sees. The fanbase is already dreaming. And the boy from Cologne who shattered Italy’s World Cup hopes is finding, with characteristic directness and good humour, that being an 18-year-old Bosnian at Juventus is a rather remarkable thing to be.
“When Juventus Call, It Is Very Hard to Say No”
All of Europe wanted Alajbegovic — that much has been established. The question of why he chose Juventus above the rest received the most natural and honest answer. “When Juventus call, it is really very hard to say no. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am truly proud to wear this shirt. Receiving the club’s trust is really, really important to me.”
On the decisive role of Miralem Pjanić: “He was certainly important in the choice — because Pjanić was a Juventus player. He was a truly great footballer with enormous influence at this club. He also helped my father a great deal: he was in contact with both him and the club. In the end, what we all wanted happened — and we are all very happy that it went this way.”
“Del Piero Is a Genuine Legend — and Being Praised by Him Is Truly Special”
Alessandro Del Piero’s endorsement in Perth — calling Alajbegovic a major talent — reached the player and produced a response of genuine humility and grounded ambition. “Alessandro Del Piero needs no introduction — everyone knows him. He was a truly, truly great player, a real legend. I can only take him as an example. It is an honour that he said something like that about me — because when a legend of his stature says something about you, it is truly special. But it is not finished, obviously. I must continue to work hard. I have just arrived and I want to do my very best and show everyone what I can do. I have a long journey ahead of me.”
“Spalletti Wants Perfection — Every Pass Must Be Precise”
On the experience of working under Luciano Spalletti during the Asian tour, Alajbegovic was immediately enthusiastic: “The new manager is really very good. You can see it during training — he always wants the best from the squad, always wants perfection. He works really hard. That is a very positive thing, because you can learn something at every session. You can see it from the way every pass must be precise. That is really important, because you learn new things — you focus on passing, on shooting, on movement, on positioning. For me he is a top-level coach and I am genuinely happy to be working with him. I cannot wait to learn every day, session by session.”
“I Study Messi — He Is the Best of Any Era, of All Time”
The idol question produced the answer that will define how this teenager is spoken about in Turin for years. “For me the best player of all is Lionel Messi. I watched and still watch enormous amounts of video of him — he is one of the finest footballers of any era, of all time. You can simply observe what he does and try to take something from it. For me he is the best — and that is why I watch him.”
A player who studies Messi the way a craftsman studies a master. The new Juventus number ten has announced himself.
“Yıldız Is a Fantastic Person — We Speak German, Which Helps Enormously”
On the partnership that the entire Juventus fanbase is already fantasising about, Alajbegovic provided the warmest possible endorsement. “Oh, very well. Kenan is a high-level player and also a fantastic person. He has helped me a great deal. We speak the same language — German — and it is important for me to have someone who speaks my language. It is really lovely to have him here, as it is with all the other players. But yes, Kenan is truly a good friend to me — and we cannot wait to play and work together to help the team and bring Juventus high.”
“The World Cup? No Problem with Italian Players — It Was a Beautiful Night for Bosnia”
The diplomatic challenge of having knocked Italy out of World Cup qualification, whilst now playing alongside Italian teammates, was addressed with a smile and admirable grace. “No, no, absolutely not — because that is all in the past now. Of course, Bosnia is very happy about what happened, whilst Italy is not. It happened — and certainly it was not a positive thing for such a great footballing country as Italy. For us, it was a very beautiful thing to qualify. But now I think we must concentrate on the new season and the next matches. Maybe in the future, in a light-hearted way, we will have a little joke about it. With the Italian fans? No problem at all.”
“The Best PlayStation Player? Me — Though Kolo Muani Is the Only One Who Brought His Console”
The question of who is the best PlayStation player in the squad produced the 18-year-old at his most naturally charming. “The best is me! Joking aside, in reality we haven’t played much in our free time — I think only Kolo Muani brought his PlayStation, but I think in the future I will challenge them and I want to, because I am good too.”
It is a small detail, but it says everything about a dressing room beginning to bond around shared humanity rather than mere professional obligation. The Juventus summer of 2026 has, in its final days, found its heartbeat.
