Jeremie Boga has opened up to DAZN about the emotional rollercoaster he’s experienced since joining Juventus, revealing how his move to Turin helped him overcome a difficult spell at Nice that left him physically and mentally drained.
Boga admitted that the transfer to Juventus still feels surreal.
“I felt a lot of emotions. I didn’t really realise it at first — only when I signed did it hit me: yes, I’m really here. Every morning I thank God to be here after what happened in Nice,” he said. “I didn’t call anyone before the signing; I wanted to wait until everything was done. The first person I called afterwards was my father, who came here with my wife. Even he couldn’t believe it — he was very proud and told me, ‘Now that you’re here, you have to stay and show your qualities.’”
The Ivorian winger recalled fond memories from his Serie A past, particularly that stunning goal against Gianluigi Buffon.
“I can’t forget it. My best goal in Serie A, scored against a legend like Buffon. It’s a beautiful memory — but now I’m on the other side.”
“Juventus Was Like a Blessing”
When asked about his troubled time at Nice, Boga chose his words carefully but gave a glimpse into how tough things became.
“A bit of everything happened with the fans. It was a bad period for me and my family. I can’t go into details yet, but I spent two months at home working with my personal trainer and my wife. It was difficult — I even lost weight because I was eating very little, and my family was worried. It was a dark time I wanted to forget. Juventus saved me; coming here has been a blessing. I was out of the squad for two months, and now I’m at Juventus — it’s a dream. I have to prove in every match and every training session that I’m lucky to be here.”
Getting Back Into Rhythm
Now settled in, Boga feels he’s slowly regaining his sharpness and rhythm.
“It’s just a matter of rhythm. I’m finding it little by little. I feel better every day, and I’m on the right path.”
Praise for Kenan Yildiz
Boga also had warm words for Juventus’ young star Kenan Yildiz.
“He’s a phenomenon. Playing with him is something special. He welcomed me with kindness, and even yesterday we were talking and playing together. I’m very happy to share the pitch with him.”
Messages from Old Friends
The former Atalanta and Sassuolo player revealed that some familiar faces from his Nice days reached out to him after his move.
“Khephren Thuram texted me straight away. I played with him at Nice, and I know both him and Marcus from our time with France’s youth teams. Marcus hasn’t messaged me yet — but on Saturday we’re not friends, we have to win, and then we can joke afterwards.”
Looking Ahead to Inter v Juventus
Finally, Boga underlined the importance of the upcoming Derby d’Italia clash.
“It’s a massive game. Inter are top right now, and it’ll be difficult — but it’s a match we can win, and we’ll give everything.”
