It’s not exactly breaking news, but Kenan Yildiz is a serious talent.

The young Turk is lighting up the FIFA World Club Cup in the US: Three goals in two games has put the Juventus No 10 in the spotlight.

Yildiz was nothing short of sensational during the 4-1 win over Moroccan outfit Wydad AC in Philadelphia. 

Involved in three of the Bianconeri’s goals, Yildiz was denied a hat-trick due to a deflection on the opener after running through the defence inside the first five minutes.

If there were doubts over the first goal, there wasn’t for the second.

Andrea Cambiaso, another standout performer, slithered down the left before cutting infield. Cambiaso lost control of the ball, but it fell nicely to Yildiz 30 yards from goal. He ran on to it and smashed it perfectly with the top of his foot, the ball arrowing into the top corner.

His second came after a probing run from Randal Kolo Muani. The Frenchman, like Cambiaso, came in off the left and slipped Yildiz through. He sent defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil to the shops with a nifty little shimmy before placing the ball into the bottom corner of El Mehdi Benabid’s goal.

“I feel really good and I’m happy with what I’ve contributed. I’m having a good tournament and enjoying it,” said Yildiz after the game.

While many have showed up at FIFA’s remodelled, and some would argue bloated, tournament fatigued after a gruelling European season, Yildiz has been a breath of fresh air. 

Quick, nimble and possessing the right sprinkling of stardust, the 20-year-old has been one one of the best performers in the early stages of the competition.

Coach Igor Tudor was impressed with what he saw from Yildiz but warned him, as managers tend to do with emerging players, to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

“Only he can decide how far he can go. Players like him are rare – playing up front and making a difference while running like a typical midfielder is a rare quality,” said Tudor post-game.

“He’s got a strong mentality. We’ve all seen what he’s capable of. He’s a golden boy.”

Qualification is now secure to the round of 16 for the Old Lady, and Tudor gave the squad the evening off as a result.

Real Madrid or Salzburg await Juve in the knockout stages, and while the Bianconeri have produced good performances up to now, the quality of opposition has not been exactly stellar.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will give a more honest assessment of where Tudor is at in the early days of his tenure. City, like Juve, are already through after demolishing Al Ain 6-0 in Atlanta.

Yet both will want to avoid a showdown with Madrid in the next round and are expected to field strong teams in the hope of securing a win.

A draw would be enough for Tudor to maintain top spot, considering Juve’s superior goal difference (they are level but have scored a goal more).

Yildiz aside, Tudor can be pleased with the work of Francisco Conceicao and Kolo Muani, both showing why Juve will likely make concerted efforts to keep the pair in Turin next season.

Meanwhile, Khephren Thuram is displaying why he will be an integral part of Juve’s midfield next season.

Thuram was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign and his performances in the States will only cement his position as one of the pillars of Tudor’s Juve in 2025-26.

Tudor has shown, unlike former boss Thiago Motta, the willingness to adapt his system to get the most out of the talent at his disposal.

Whereas it felt Motta was shoehorning players into positions they were not familiar with just because he wanted to stick to his system, Tudor is more willing to adjust.

Yildiz and Conceicao have been the major beneficiaries of this. Both played as out-and-out wingers under Motta, spending most of their time away from goal.

Tudor, smartly, has moved them closer to goal, with Yildiz and Conceicao playing behind Kolo Muani in a 3-4-2-1.

Defensively, Juve look a little bit more suspect. Bremer’s return from injury cannot come quick enough, while it is clear another centre-back is needed in the summer market.

Yet another surprising positive of this tournament has been the rise of Alberto Costa.

Signed in January but hardly given a look-in by Motta, Costa started the final three league games of the season under Tudor, and has now been entrusted with motoring up and down the right-hand side in a four-man midfield.

It is early days yet for the 21-year-old, but Tudor is pleased with his progress, and with Juve making no signings before the competition, the manager has no qualms about working with what he has.

Much will change post-tournament when the transfer market really kicks into gear and players come and go, but Tudor has won over the Juve management and it is easy to see why.

Their progress in America has meant banking nearly €28million in FIFA prize money.

The hard games start on Thursday but so far there is a lot of positivity surrounding Tudor’s Old Lady.

And Yildiz is at the heart of it.