Barcelona’s pursuit of one of Europe’s brightest young stars has officially hit a dead end. According to AS, Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz has decided to commit his long-term future to the Bianconeri, signing a new deal that keeps him in Turin until 2030 — a major blow for Deco and Joan Laporta’s ambitious rebuild.
The new contract, worth €5 million per year plus performance-related bonuses, was fast-tracked by Juventus after growing interest from Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Yildiz’s renewal puts an emphatic end to months of speculation linking him with a move to Catalonia.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco had identified the 20-year-old Turkish forward as the perfect complement to teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal, envisioning the pair as the next great attacking duo at Camp Nou. But with Juve acting decisively, that dream has evaporated.
“He will extend his contract until 2030 and will earn €5 million net per season plus bonuses,” journalist Ekrem Konur confirmed, revealing how quickly Juventus moved to secure their gem once European giants came knocking.
Inside Barça’s corridors, the mood is one of frustration. Insiders admitted the club had earmarked Yildiz as a top target for 2026, when his old contract was due to expire, but Juventus’ proactive move has closed that window before it even opened.
“Deco saw in Yildiz a player who could grow alongside Yamal — two young, fearless talents who understand football in the same way,” a club source told GoalLine365. “Now, that possibility is gone.”
Juventus, meanwhile, view Yildiz as untouchable. Under new manager Thiago Motta, the Turkish international has become a central piece in their long-term project, and his extension signals Juve’s determination to keep their academy product at the heart of their rebuild.
“After hearing of Barça and Premier League interest, Juventus didn’t hesitate. They moved swiftly to close the deal,” said Konur, highlighting how Turin’s management learned from past transfer scares.
While Laporta and Deco have now turned their attention to alternative young forwards, internally there’s acceptance that financial limits have once again cost the club a chance at a generational signing.
“Competing with Juventus’ salary offer is simply impossible in our current situation,” one Barça official admitted.
For now, Yildiz remains firmly in black and white — and as Juventus prepare to build their future around him, Barcelona can only watch from afar, wondering what might have been.
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