Juventus Firm on Kenan Yildiz Amid Arsenal Interest
Luciano Spalletti is not blinking. Not for Arsenal, not for €100m, not for anyone.
As speculation intensifies around Kenan Yildiz and a possible move to the Premier League, the Juventus manager has gone on the front foot, making it abundantly clear the winger is central to his plans and not a bargaining chip for the final days of the window.
“I am perfectly relaxed, because dealing with Yildiz is easy for me,” Spalletti told the media. “They can offer whatever they like, I want Yildiz here and will always put him on the field.
“His future is already important, staying at Juventus, not because there are other clubs who want to spend €100m for him.”
Those comments echo what had already been reported ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener. David Ornstein revealed on NBC Sports that Juventus intended to keep hold of the Turkey international despite strong interest from north London.
Arsenal’s admiration is no secret. Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri described Yildiz as a “dream” signing for Mikel Arteta this summer, adding that the club had decided to act on that long-standing interest. Arteta is said to have been pushing for the 21-year-old for some time, with Arsenal now prepared to “pull out all the stops” to test Juventus’ resolve.
So far, that resolve has barely flickered.
From the boardroom, the message is just as uncompromising as Spalletti’s. Club general manager Damien Comolli has branded Yildiz “untouchable” and “at the centre of our project”, underlining how heavily Juventus intend to build around him rather than cash in.
Comolli has not denied Arsenal’s pursuit. On the contrary, he confirmed the Premier League side’s interest but drew a hard line in the sand, insisting Juventus would not sell “even if they offered €100m”.
Arsenal, then, are stuck in a familiar stance: waiting, watching, hoping the market breaks their way.
James McNicholas reported for The Athletic that the Gunners are monitoring whether circumstances might shift around either Yildiz or Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid before the deadline. The plan is clear – be ready to move the moment an opening appears.
Juventus, though, keep slamming that window shut. With just over a week left in the market, every public statement from Turin points in the same direction: no sale, no negotiation, no late drama.
If Arsenal want Yildiz, they may have to accept a harsh reality. For now, he is not the winger being prised away. He is the one a resurgent Juventus intend to build around.
