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.

But just as it looked as though everything was going his way, the youngster – who was born in Italy to a couple from Ivory Coast – was the subject of racist abuse from Cagliari supporters after he claimed the second goal in his side’s 2-0 victory at the Sardegna Arena on the island of Sardinia. Having been subjected to monkey ​chants and other vitriol from a minority of home fans, Kean celebrated his 85th-minute strike under the noses of the Cagliari ultras, stepping behind the goal and standing in front of them with his arms stretched out.