Negotiations between Juventus and Kenan Yildiz have hit a wall over money and status — a classic fork in the road for a club nurturing a future star and a player seeking to cement his new level. The winger already has a long deal, but both sides are considering updated terms. At the same time, major European players are circling: Chelsea are sizing up the Turkish winger again, and Joan Laporta is openly dreaming of pairing Yildiz with Lamine Yamal at Barcelona.
Progress on Hold: A Long Contract, But No Consensus
The current agreement between the 19-year-old winger and the Turin club runs until 2029. According to the Italian press, an extension to 2030 is also on the table; however, the negotiation puzzle has not come together yet: the parties diverge in how they assess the player's 'weight' in the current project and, as a result, the figures of his future salary. Juve aim to settle the matter before the next major transfer window, but there is no rush — the contract term formally protects the club.
Money and Hierarchy: Top-Five Level Is Not Enough
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the club are ready to raise Yildiz's salary into the range of the team's five highest earners. The lower bound of that group is around €4.5 million per year (the level Teun Koopmeiners receives), and that is only the starting mark within the elite 'top five'. The Turkish talent's camp believes that, given his role and development trajectory, the package should be higher — not just a bigger base, but also a rework of bonuses, KPIs and, possibly, extension options.
Market Pressure: Chelsea Preparing Another Push
The Londoners are closely monitoring the pause in Turin and are ready to revisit the matter after a previous €70 million offer was rejected. For Chelsea, Yildiz is a long-term investment on the flank with the upside of an elite, productive winger for years to come. The question is how willing Juve are, even in theory, to discuss selling a player around whom they are building a strategy of rejuvenation and asset capitalization.
Catalan Temptation: Laporta Sees a Duet with Lamine Yamal
According to media reports, Barcelona president Joan Laporta would like to unite Yildiz with Lamine Yamal — two teenagers who already play like grown men. In Barca's football logic, this would be an investment in flank creativity for the next decade: Yamal's left-sided asymmetry plus Yildiz's right-footed versatility, work between the lines, and creating shooting angles on his weaker foot. But everything here hinges on finances and on Juve's willingness to enter into talks.
What's on the Negotiators' Table
Judging by the rhetoric, the parties are not only debating the size of the 'base'. The architecture of the contract matters:
- the structure of individual and team bonuses (for goals/assists, percentage of starts, European competition targets);
- possible season-by-season salary escalators upon hitting KPIs;
- term and options (an extension through 2030 with a review after one or two seasons);
- potential protective mechanisms for the club (protection against early buyout) and clear benchmarks for the player (increases as he cements leader status).
A well-tailored package would allow Juve to retain the talent without breaking the wage hierarchy, while giving the player a clear trajectory of income growth.
Scenarios for the Coming Months
- Baseline — a compromise in Turin: a slightly higher 'base' plus generous bonuses and escalators that lift the overall check to the desired level if progress on the pitch continues.
- Alternative — a prolonged pause: the parties take a time-out until the next window, while the market heats up with renewed Chelsea activity and Barca interest.
- Radical — haggling over the player as early as this winter/summer, but it looks unlikely given Juve's previous refusal of a major offer and their strategy to keep key assets.
Conclusion
The Yildiz situation is a textbook case of managing the value of a young leader: a long contract gives the club time; status and development momentum give the player leverage. If Juventus and the winger find a 'money + role' formula, Turin will keep collecting dividends from its own diamond. If not, clubs are already lining up to pay not only for today's potential but for the future trophies he can help bring closer.
