Kenan Yildiz started on the bench for Juventus in their Champions League trip to Norway — and ended up transforming the entire match.
There was plenty of discussion in the build-up to the game. It was widely expected that, unless some last-minute issue intervened, he would not feature in the starting eleven after an uninspired display in Florence a few days earlier. As predicted, Yildiz began on the sidelines as Luciano Spalletti chose Fabio Miretti to play behind the strikers alongside Francisco Conceição — a notable decision given how central the number 10 has been to Juventus’ game this season.
A True Game-Changer
IlBianconero detail how, In the end, Spalletti’s choice proved spot on. For once, Yildiz was not burdened with carrying the team from the opening whistle. Instead, he was handed a different but arguably just as crucial mission — to be the game-changer. And he delivered perfectly.
In the freezing Norwegian night of Bodo, it took him only a few minutes to completely alter a match that was veering toward disaster for Juventus. His technique, energy, and creativity — the qualities that had recently seemed dulled, perhaps due to fitness issues — resurfaced with force. The young Turk injected pace, clarity, and confidence into a side that suddenly started believing again.
Humble Words After a Big Impact
“Before the match, I didn’t know I wouldn’t be starting, but that’s the manager’s decision,” Yildiz said afterwards, showing his usual humility. “When I came on, I just wanted to give my best. I’m not focused on goals or assists — I’m here to help the team. The assist for Miretti? I was sorry it was disallowed, as it would’ve been the icing on the cake. But this is a really important victory.”
A Leader in Spirit
A star, yes — the number 10 shirt confirms that. But above all, Yildiz remains a team player. That’s nothing new for him: few could ever accuse the young Turk of lacking effort or commitment to his teammates. Yet the performance in Bodo offered a timely reminder of an “old-new” version of Yildiz — one capable of rewriting the story of a match through pure instinct and quality.
Will this now be his role going forward? Probably not. The feeling inside Juventus is that he will soon reclaim his place in the starting line-up. After what he showed in Norway, Juventus both cannot — and will not — do without him.
