Khephren Thuram admits he has been ‘dreaming of joining Juventus since I was a child,’ when his father Lilian was playing for the Bianconeri. ‘If Juve call, you can only say yes.’
The midfielder completed his transfer today for €20m plus up to €0.6m in add-ons from OGC Nice and will therefore be up against his older brother Marcus, who joined Inter last summer.
Khephren was born in Italy in March 2001, just a couple of months before his father Lilian made the move from Parma to Juventus.
“I dreamed of joining Juventus since I was a child, so I am very emotional and happy at this special day,” Thuram told the official club website.
“I remember when my father played at the Stadio Delle Alpi, I remember Zlatan Ibrahimovic, that I lived here and thought my brother was the best in the world.
“My Dad talked about Juve as the biggest club in Italy, he sees it as the biggest club in the world, and when you arrive at Juventus, you must play to win.”
Juventus a family affair for Thuram
He was greeted at the training ground at Continassa by current director and former Juve player Gianluca Pessotto, who Khephren still calls ‘uncle’ after growing up around this team.
If the Turin giants were always in his destiny, then the interest goes back quite some way to before he came to OGC Nice.
“The first contact with Juve was when I was playing at Monaco, at the age of 17. I’m happy the club came back looking for me. If Juve call, you can only say yes.”
Thuram was picked to help rebuild the midfield under new coach Thiago Motta, who has a very different tactical vision to predecessor Max Allegri.
“I like to run with the ball, defend, but also attack. I love football, I enjoy being on the pitch with my teammates and winning,” said Khephren.
“I salute the fans and hope to see them soon. Fino alla fine.”