Barcelona reportedly came within touching distance of securing the services of Turkish wonderkid Kenan Yildiz before his eventual move to Juventus, a transfer that has since proven to be a masterstroke for the Italian giants.
According to Spanish journalist Albert Fernández, the Catalan club nearly beat Juventus to the youngster’s signature, but the Bianconeri acted faster and signed him from Bayern Munich in 2022.
“Kenan Yildiz is already a very expensive player, especially after the showcase of the Club World Cup. Barça nearly signed him, but Juve took him from Bayern in 2022,” Fernández revealed on Monday.
Now 20, Yildiz has become one of the hottest young prospects in Europe. His performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup turned heads, especially as Juventus clashed with elite opposition.
Despite Juve’s elimination at the hands of Real Madrid in the Last 16, Yildiz was a standout, racking up five direct goal contributions in four games during the tournament in the USA.
The attacking midfielder’s tally for the 2024/25 season stands at an impressive 12 goals and 9 assists across all competitions remarkable numbers for a player in a team undergoing a period of transition.
Barcelona’s near-signing of Yildiz is now being viewed with a tinge of regret among fans and insiders alike.
Had negotiations taken a slightly different course, the Turkish international could have been wearing the Blaugrana jersey instead of black and white stripes in Turin.
Juventus, meanwhile, are reaping the rewards of their foresight and holding tight to a gem whose value continues to rise.
