A ninety meter of muscles. Eyes narrowed and fists clenched. When the Turkish defender enters the pitch, the message is clear: “You will not pass”. With its airs of conqueror of the Byzantine Empire, number 28 does not seem tender. However, once the boots are off, Merih Demiral is a 2.0 locker room man. Arrived at Juventus at only 21 years old, the first Turkish player of the bianconeri quickly takes his marks by befriending a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. “Oh a Turk who speaks Portuguese” exclaims number 7 when he hears Demiral speaking with Joao Cancelo -before he leaves for Manchester City- in his native language. An ease of language that will over time contribute to the special relationship that develops between the two men. Portuguese, Demiral learned during his two-year hook in Portugal. In his younger years, the Turk made a quick stint at Alcanenense (2016-2017) first and then in the footsteps of his future teammate at Sporting Portugal (2017-2018).
A special relationship with CR7 but not only. In an overview on the bianconeri social networks, we quickly realize how much Merih Demiral is appreciated by his teammates. When he went out on a stretcher against Roma in January 2020 after tearing his cruciate ligaments, all of his friends have a word for him. Attention that does not accelerate his recovery but which demonstrate the importance of his place in the Turin locker room. Last anecdote to date: an Instagram story quarrel with Juan Cuadrado. The Turk stole the Colombian’s cell phone to post pictures of him with his teammate’s account. A joke that earned him a little revenge the next day. Big kids.
The one who played barbers for Leonardo Bonucci in confinement is also unanimous among the supporters. His comments under his teammates’ posts in rough Italian have become legendary in Piedmont. Besides his antics, Juventus aficionados admire his ferocity on the pitch. Yet the love story was not written in advance. Shortly after arriving from Sassuolo, Merih Demiral took a stand, like many Turkish players, in favor of Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Turkish invasion of northern Syria.
A controversial choice that will earn him a #DemiralOut on the networks of Turin supporters. But this departure from the road was quickly forgotten by the juventini who wanted above all to see him perform on the ground. In the first leg against Inter, their wish was granted. The youth duo with Matthijs de Ligt (22 and 21), to replace the experienced Chiellini (36) and Bonucci (33). The new generation pleased, especially Merih Demiral, author of a miraculous rescue on Alexis Sanchez, worthy of a goal.
Everyone who wears the number 28 in honor of his mother who died in a car accident on December 28 when he was only 14 years old. Or almost. After having burned the stages by arriving in a European top club three years after leaving Fenerbahçe, Merih Demiral hopes to find a starting place at Juventus. Since his return from injury at the start of the year, life has not been rosy under the sky of Turin. To dislodge Chiellini, Bonucci and De Ligt it remains to seduce the most important. Maybe tonight, Andrea Pirlo. By muzzling Romelu Lukaku, for example.
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