‘Moise Kean is destined for greatness’: The view from Italy on Everton’s new £27m star Whether for club or country, the 19-year-old has grabbed every opportunity with two hands – the biggest mystery is why Juventus him go

TURIN — Moise Kean only needs to be given a chance. Since making his £27m move from Juventus to Everton earlier this month, the Italy international has been made to wait, his two substitute appearances in the Premier League totalling just 39 minutes.

But he can rest assured that Everton did not spend that money for him to be a bit-part player and as his side make the journey down the M6 on Friday, the 19-year-old will be hoping Marco Silva gives him the nod at Villa Park.

That show of faith from the manager would not be misplaced because whenever Kean has been given an opportunity, he has seized it with both hands.

Having grown up in relatively poor circumstances in Vercelli in northern Italy, Kean’s obsession for the game was apparent from an early age, confessing recently that he used to steal a ball from the local priest to play on the asphalt pitch behind his church.

Early steps

From those early informal six-vs-six games Kean followed his brother Giovanni to training with local side ACD Asti, his ability quickly spotted as he kicked a ball around on the sidelines.

“That’s when I first saw Moise play,” the club’s former vice-president Remo Turello told Bleacher Report. “He was only six years old and had just tagged along one morning, but it was clear immediately that he was special. His touch and coordination were so much better than the other boys. Even when we put him in with our 10-year-olds, he often looked like the best player on the pitch.”

Next came a move to Torino, shining for the club’s youth teams before financial problems once again reared their head. Kean’s mother could not afford to take him to training in Turin every day, and it was then that cross-city rivals Juventus stepped in, offering to move the entire family into a new home in order to relieve the burden.

Marking his mark at Juve

Once at Juventus, the young Kean never looked back, scoring goal after goal as he progressed through the youth academy, eventually making it impossible for head coach Max Allegri not to give him a first-team opportunity. In November 2016, Kean became the youngest player ever to play for Juventus, then the first player born in the 2000s to feature in the Champions League.

A goal against Bologna on the last day of the 2016-17 campaign made Kean the first player born in the 21st century to score in Serie A, before an ill-advised loan saw him spend a season with Hellas Verona. For the promising striker it was a frustrating 12 months and he arrived back at Juve determined to make up for lost time.

Despite a squad boasting attacking talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi, Kean carved out a niche as an impact substitute. He scored six times in just 536 minutes and convinced the club’s diehard supporters that he could become a regular for years to come.

Racism row

At the same time, Roberto Mancini made him a regular for Italy. Kean responded to that step up with two goals in his first three appearances. His hopes for a place in the Euro 2020 squad were undoubtedly buoyed when the Azzurri boss said recently that he is “destined for greatness”.

Mancini also came to the defence of his young protege when he was racially abused by Cagliari supporters last season. Charalampos Lykogiannis shoved Kean into the advertising hoardings and, upon seeing the striker react, the home fans showered him with monkey chants every time he touched the ball.

Kean rose above the attempts to bait him, scoring a goal to secure all three points for the Bianconeri and celebrating by holding his arms outstretched to his tormentors. He was criticised by his own team-mate for doing so, Leonardo Bonucci telling Sky Italia that Kean “could have done it differently” and “the blame is 50-50”.

A new chance at Everton

Juve issued no real response, much to the dismay of their own supporters, who backed Kean even more in the weeks that followed. “He’s one of our own,” season ticket holder Andrea told i this week. “He proved last year that he’s good enough to play for such a big club and having a homegrown star in the lineup always means so much. But now they decided to sell him and I just don’t get it… he can be a true star, why would they give up so quickly?”

That is an opinion shared by fans at Juventus Stadium and on social media, prompting a huge outpouring of emotion and anger when the transfer to Goodison Park was confirmed. “The fee was a big profit,” says Paolo – another fan on the Curva Sud – “but if he has one good season in the Premier League then Everton could sell him for double, it seems very short-sighted to me and I hope we don’t regret a big mistake.”

Once again there was no explanation from club officials, Juventus remaining silent as to why they gave up on such a promising young player so quickly and for so little. But their loss is most definitely Everton’s gain, and now – as the Toffees wait to take on Aston Villa – Kean will be hoping his next chance is not too far away.

Don’t bet against him taking it.