Dino Zoff has voiced his concerns over Juventus’ decision to hand the captain’s armband to Kenan Yildiz, describing it as a move that puts unnecessary pressure on the young Turkish forward.
Speaking in an interview with Tuttosport, the legendary former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper praised Yildiz’s talent but questioned the club’s reasoning behind such a symbolic gesture.
“Without making direct comparisons, I can say that Yildiz is very talented. He plays brilliantly—he has the potential to reach the very top and become a champion,” Zoff said, acknowledging the qualities of the number 10. However, he wondered why Juventus gave him the captain’s armband in the absence of Manuel Locatelli during their last outing.
“Real Madrid–Juve showed this”
“The match in Madrid showed that Juve can compete with anyone and that they’re in good shape,” Zoff remarked. “Now, though, they need consistency, starting on Sunday at the Olimpico against Lazio. Playing Lazio is never easy, but I expect a strong performance from Juve. They need a win to turn things around after recent poor results, climb the table, and give new momentum to their season.”
“How is Vlahovic supposed to score?”
Zoff also commented on Dusan Vlahovic’s current situation, expressing doubts about the striker’s limited playing time. “How can he score if he only plays half a match at a time? He needs consistency in order to stand out and make an impact,” he argued. On new signings Loïs Openda and Jonathan David, Zoff added: “They’ll need some time to adapt to a different league. That said, if the quality is there, it will eventually come through.”
“Why give Yildiz the armband?”
The main talking point, however, remained Yildiz’s new temporary captaincy. “I really didn’t understand this decision. Why did they give him the captain’s armband?” Zoff asked.
He elaborated further: “In my view, it’s a mistake to give such responsibility to such a young player, burdening him with exaggerated pressures. There are more experienced players in the squad who could take on that role without weighing down Yildiz’s development.”
