The bright lights of the Champions League often reveal hidden gems, and for Juventus, a recent clash against Villarreal brought one such moment. Young Portuguese international Francisco Conceição didn’t start the game, but his arrival after halftime completely changed the mood. It only took him 11 minutes to find the net, scoring in the 56th minute. From that point until the final whistle, Conceição delivered many standout plays. These moments didn’t go unnoticed, earning high praise from two of Italian football’s most respected voices: Fabio Capello, the seasoned 79-year-old Italian coach, and Zvonimir Boban, a former Croatian international and a legend at Milan.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Capello, who once coached both England and Russia, emphasized the immediate impact Conceição, formerly of FC Porto, had on the match. He noted that Conceição “changed the team,” bringing a new balance to the field. His creative plays really troubled Villarreal. Capello observed that Juventus took control for a good while, making him think they must have some regrets. He felt certain substitutions should have happened sooner, particularly wondering why “David” stayed on the pitch until only five minutes were left. Capello believed the team tired significantly in the last 20 minutes of play.
Zvonimir Boban, considered one of Croatia’s finest footballers ever, extended his praise for Francisco Conceição even further. Boban stated that Conceição “completely changed Juventus tonight.” He wondered why the young winger didn’t start the game in the first place. Boban highlighted Conceição’s exceptional ability in one-on-one situations, describing it as “extremely good.” He also mentioned how “incredibly easy” it is for Conceição to change his pace and deliver accurate passes in the final attacking third of the field.
However, Boban also offered some constructive advice. He suggested that Conceição still “lacks a bit of maturity and calm.” While he plays well when given the chance, Boban feels he needs “the calm of a true player.” Boban is confident that this composure will come with time, and when it does, Conceição will make an even bigger leap in his quality. He concluded by stressing that players with Conceição’s unique individual skills are rare, even “more so than Yildiz.”
This comparison to Yildiz is notable because Yildiz is one of Juventus’s highly touted young talents. The Turkish youngster even ranked 5th in the most recent Kopa Trophy, an award given to the best footballers under 21 worldwide. Conceição’s standout performance, generating such expert commentary, firmly places him as a player to watch for Juventus’s future.