Poetic Justice For Teenager Kean

Juventus star caught up in racism row

- Paddy Agnew

Sometimes, even in the cynical, fiercely competitive world of professional football, there is a poetic justice out there. Or so it seemed when Moise Kean, the current overnight sensation in Italian football, scored the winning goal for Juventus in their 2-1 victory at home to Milan.

In just one month, the 19-year-old’s status has gone from that of a relatively unknown Juve reserve to one of the brightest prospects in Serie A.

Kept on the bench until the beginning of April, Kean – Italians pronounce it “Ken” – got his big break on the eve of the Champions League round-of-16 return game with Atletico Madrid.

Two-nil down from the first leg in Spain, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri unsurprisingly opted to rest many of his normal starting XI in a domestic league game with Udinese three days earlier. In their absence, Kean made the most of his chance and scored twice in a 4-1 win.

And when superstar team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo was then injured playing for Portugal in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Serbia, further chances followed – and the teenager not only managed five goals in five Serie A games, he also scored two in two Euro qualifiers in only his second and third appearances for Italy’s senior national side.