When Real Madrid eye a Juventus star: Alonso’s bold bid to sign Kenan Yildiz

Alonso targets Yildiz as Real Madrid eye a rising star

According to Italian super-agent Giovanni Branchini, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is keen to sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, and he would be willing to sacrifice almost anyone to make it happen—except for the French star Kylian Mbappe.

Branchini, speaking to Tuttomercato, said Juventus are asking around €100 million for the young Turk, a figure typical of a market that prizes potential over age at times. He added that every club would pursue such a fee in today’s market, and that there is ongoing chatter about Nico Williams—who has renewed with Athletic Bilbao—highlighting how coveted a young talent Yildiz has become. The consensus is that Yildiz is highly admired and would attract substantial interest from multiple European giants.

Branchini, one of the most renowned Italian football intermediaries, is also connected to the coaching world, and has links to figures like Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri.

Yildiz faced Real Madrid last Wednesday as Juventus were beaten 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the Champions League group stage MD3, a reminder that the forward’s future is already on the continent’s big stages.

Should a move materialize, Yildiz would reportedly meet up again with a familiar face—former Juventus defender Din Huisen—if Real Madrid manages to secure his transfer this coming summer.

In discussing the potential deal, Branchini offered a candid view: “Selling Huisen would be painful, but that’s the reality when you have to sell at any price.” He went on to caution that some rumored deals—like those involving Di Gregorio—are part of a wider conversation about where Juventus’ priorities lie, especially given they already boast solid options in other positions.

Regarding Yildiz’s long-term future, there have been links to Chelsea and Arsenal as well, though Juventus is pushing to extend his contract through 2030 to lock in his services for the long haul.

Yildiz joined Juventus’ youth setup in 2022 from Bayern Munich and has already made an impression, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 10 appearances across all competitions this season, in 849 minutes on the pitch.

Since stepping into Juventus’ first team, the Turkish talent has grown into a regular starter, accumulating 94 appearances with 18 goals and 15 assists across all competitions for the club, in 5,455 minutes of action. In Juventus’ Primavera side, he featured 31 times with 12 goals and 7 assists, and in the “Future” squad he played 15 games with two goals and one assist.

Juventus’ form and Todor era

Juventus began the season on a high, beating Parma 2-0 at home and then narrowly beating Genoa 1-0. They followed up with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Inter Milan in the Derby d’Italia, signaling early promise under Todor’s management.

However, the trajectory cooled as the campaign progressed. In Europe, they drew 4-4 with Borussia Dortmund and 2-2 with Villarreal, then lost 1-0 away to Real Madrid, leaving them with just two points from the first three fixtures and sitting far down in the group standings.

Back in Serie A, Juventus also produced a mixed bag—1-1 draws in Verona and against Atalanta, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Como—before Todor’s arrival began to show a stabilizing effect. Todor, born April 16, 1978 in Split, Croatia, has been Juventus’ head coach since March 23 of the current year; his background as a defender and his long association with the club have shaped a more organized defensive approach and quicker transitions going forward.

Internationally, Todor earned 55 caps for Croatia, scoring three goals and representing his country in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups.

In short, the transfer saga around Kenan Yildiz is a snapshot of a busy winter of football negotiations: a young star, strategic renewals, a historical club, and a coach who believes in rebuilding with discipline and pace.

Punchline 1: If transfer fees were jokes, today’s market would have a standing ovation and a referee’s whistle at the same time.

Punchline 2: I told my wallet about the Yildiz saga, and it filed for a transfer request to another bank—apparently, even my money is chasing potential now.