What Joseph Boende delivered in the UEFA Youth League yesterday evening may not have pleased many scouts. The 17-year-old midfielder from Juventus received a yellow-red in a duel against the U19s of KRC Genk and had to leave the field in the 63rd minute. In the end, the Belgians made it through to the next round 4-3 after a penalty shoot-out.
However, the appearance has probably not changed the positive overall impression of the midfield talent. As the Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports, FC Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt and AS Monaco have picked up Boende’s trail again. Because the Belgian U18 national player convinces in the headquarters with several qualities that make him interesting for other clubs.
Boende loves to push the ball at high speed. But the 1.84-meter-tall right-footed player’s strengths also include long, precise balls to team-mates. In Juve’s U19, the Schlaks stands out with his great maturity and his well-developed understanding of the game. During his time in the youth team of RSC Anderlecht, Boende played in central defense and gradually became more central. The youngster can also hold several positions.
Juventus defends itself
No wonder Juventus are keen to keep their jewel, which has already been compared to ex-Juve pro Edgar Davids for the way he plays. During the World Cup break, Boende was allowed to appear in two friendlies with the professional team under Massimiliano Allegri. According to Tavolieri, the old lady is working on extending the current contract, which runs until 2024, ahead of schedule. However, this should not detract from the increased interest.
