Former Juventus and Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic has offered his perspective on the arrival of compatriot Kerim Alajbegovic at the Turin club. With the teenager preparing for his debut season in Serie A, Pjanic believes that having Luciano Spalletti as a head coach is an ideal scenario for the young player’s development. Pjanic described Spalletti as extraordinary, noting that the manager possesses the specific ability to extract the very best from his talents.
Despite attracting significant attention from various prestigious European clubs, Alajbegovic opted to join Juventus, a move that mirrors Pjanic’s own path in 2016. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pjanic explained that the decision was driven by the player's maturity and his family’s support. Pjanic, who maintains a friendship with the teenager’s father, noted that while he provided his own insights, the final choice rested with the family. Having tracked Alajbegovic’s progress through youth national team matches in Bosnia and his time with Salzburg in Austria, Pjanic emphasized that the player has long held an interest in the Italian league.
Juventus has committed a significant investment of €35 million to secure the teenager, a figure approaching the €40 million spent on Paulo Dybala in 2015. Pjanic expressed hope that Alajbegovic can replicate the success Dybala achieved in Turin, though he stressed that the youngster must remain humble and grow without excessive pressure. Regarding his adaptation to the club, Pjanic advised Alajbegovic to focus on integrating with his new teammates and learning the Italian language quickly.
On the pitch, Pjanic views Alajbegovic as a versatile offensive player capable of operating in various attacking roles. He reiterated his confidence in Spalletti, who coached Pjanic for six months at Roma, to guide the youngster effectively. Furthermore, Pjanic anticipates a strong partnership between Alajbegovic and Kenan Yildiz, stating that quality players naturally find synergy on the pitch. Pjanic concluded by expressing his satisfaction that Alajbegovic will be under the tutelage of a coach with such a proven track record of developing players throughout his career.
