Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz will miss Saturday’s Derby della Mole against Torino after suffering a calf injury in training on Thursday, according to reports from TuttoSport. Medical examinations at the J Medical facility confirmed muscle inflammation, ruling the 20-year-old out of the crucial fixture and raising concerns about his potential participation in upcoming international commitments.
The injury is a blow to manager Luciano Spalletti, particularly given Yildiz’s recent recognition as Serie A’s best young player under the age of 23. Despite a slight dip in form in the latter half of the season, attributed to a previous knee issue, Yildiz has contributed 10 goals and 7 assists for Juventus this campaign. His absence opens the door for Jeremie Boga to make a significant impact, with the club reportedly prepared to exercise their option to purchase the Ivorian winger permanently from Nice for €4.8 million.
Boga is expected to slot into the starting eleven alongside Dusan Vlahovic, who has scored Juventus’ last two goals. However, the Derby could also prove to be a pivotal moment in Vlahovic’s future at the club, with ongoing speculation surrounding a potential departure. Discussions regarding his long-term future are expected to intensify next week. Meanwhile, Gabriel Conceicao is likely to feature on the right wing.
Further compounding Spalletti’s selection issues, midfielder Denis Thuram is also a doubt for the match, having trained separately from the squad this week. If Thuram is unavailable, Koopmeiners is the most likely replacement, though Spalletti has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the player’s performance. Alternatives include Hans Nicolussi Holm and Weston McKennie, who could be deployed in a more versatile role. Federico Gatti is expected to fill in for the injured Bremer in central defence, while a decision remains to be made regarding the starting goalkeeper. Juventus will enter a team retreat at the Continassa training ground in an attempt to focus ahead of the derby.
