Marchisio: Yildiz ‘worth 50% of Juventus’, they should sign Tonali
Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio feels Kenan Yildiz is the only Bianconeri player who can turn the result around against Galatasaray tonight, but the Bianconeri must rebuild a strong core of Italian players in 2026-27: ‘Sandro Tonali would be excellent.’
Juventus host Galatasaray in the second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off tonight after suffering a 5-2 loss in Turkey last week.
“For a night like this, the ideal man would be Tevez. Spalletti would need his shake,” Marchisio, a former Juventus star, told Gazzetta.
“It will be tough to recover from three goals down without conceding, especially given the moment Spalletti’s team is going through, but Juventus must believe. It’s the Champions League.”
Juventus have lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, and tonight they’ll need to win by three goals to send the game to extra time.
This past Saturday, they suffered their first home defeat since March 2025, losing 2-0 against Como.
“On this Champions League night, the most important thing is to show Juventus’s soul and personality,” Marchisio said.
“I was at the Stadium on Saturday, and they lacked the fundamental qualities to wear the Bianconeri shirt: personality and an understanding of moments. I didn’t hear anyone shouting: ‘Wake up, there’s the season at stake.’ The collapse in Istanbul in the second half and the defeat against Como worried me. It’s about the mentality.
“Yildiz is the only one who can turn Galatasaray around,” Marchisio continued.
“Kenan is worth 50% of Juventus, and unfortunately, the opponents have understood it. McKennie’s late runs will also be important.”
Juventus are said to be interested in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva as a free agent; would the Portuguese be a good acquisition for the Bianconeri?
Marchisio: Juventus should sign Tonali as Donnarumma ‘out of reach’
“Football changes, but the clubs’ DNA doesn’t. Juventus have always had a core of Italian players, and they must rebuild it,” noted Marchisio.
“Donnarumma seems out of reach, having just joined Manchester City. Tonali seems more feasible; he’d be an excellent starting point, but patience is needed.”
Giorgio Chiellini, a club legend and former teammate of Marchisio, is now a director at Juventus.
“He suffers because he loves Juventus, but Giorgio experienced even worse moments as a player,” concluded Marchisio.
“We finished seventh for two seasons in a row. Chiellini was fundamental on the pitch, and the same is true now to transmit personality and mentality to the team.”