Kolo Muani's Compliment Came as a Surprise
Reporter: Randal Kolo Muani called you a “wizard” in a recent interview. How did that make you feel?
Kenan Yildiz: To be honest, at first I thought I’d misheard. Randal is one of those strikers whose highlights I was watching on YouTube just two or three years ago. Hearing that kind of description from him is inspiring and gives me confidence.
Reporter: What exactly do you think he meant by “magic”?
Yildiz: Probably our combinations in the final third. We work a lot on disguised passes and changes of tempo, and I love improvising between the lines. If the ball “sticks” to my boot, it means the coaches’ work is paying off.
Joint Training Sessions Turned Into a Mini-Competition
Reporter: How is your understanding with the Frenchman developing on the Continassa training ground?
Yildiz: From the first day of his loan, Randal said, “Let’s compete in goal contributions.” That created an internal derby: who will play the most incisive passes or win the most one-on-ones today. It pushes me to keep raising the intensity, to work on pressing and split-second decision-making.
Reporter: Who’s ahead in the personal statistics?
Yildiz (smiling): Let’s just say the score changes every two or three sessions. The main thing is the benefit to the team, not the individual numbers.
Long-Term Contract? I Feel Part of the Project
Reporter: Fans are talking about your contract being extended with Juve through 2030. How close is the deal?
Yildiz: We’re really in the home stretch. The club has made it clear that it sees me as a first-team player for many years to come, and I’m grateful to the Bianconeri for their faith; it’s here that I’ve grown as a footballer and as a person.
Reporter: What goals have you set for the coming seasons?
Yildiz: To win the Scudetto, get back to the Champions League final, and of course help the Turkey national team reach at least the semi-finals of a major tournament. If that takes being a “wizard,” I’m ready to keep casting spells!
