On Tuesday night, Enzo Barrenechea made his full debut for Juventus in what turned out to be a thrilling Derby della Mole.
In the absence of the suspended Manuel Locatelli, the young Argentine got the nod ahead of his older and more experienced compatriot Leandro Paredes.
Fortunately, the 21-year-old made the most of the opportunity, showing maturity and character while operating as a defensive midfielder.
The Juventus Next Gen star played for over an hour before leaving his place on the pitch for the return of Paul Pogba.
After the match, the Argentine described his debut with the first team as a dream although he admitted that it even took him by surprise.
It’s a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life because it’s my debut in Serie A, it’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Barrenechea said in his post-match interview on JTV via JuventusNews24.
“I had already made my Champions League debut, but playing in Serie A is also an achievement.
“It’s a derby, everyone knows what it means in this city and how people live. I couldn’t experience Primavera, so playing it in the first team is incredible.
“The truth is that I did not expect it. I thank the coach and the coaching staff for their trust in him. It was a great opportunity that I tried to make the most of and stay focused. I’m glad we won.”
The young midfielder revealed the advice he received from his teammates who told him to keep his cool and approach it as just another Next Gen game.
“They told me to stay calm, to play like in Next Gen. At first, I was a little nervous, but during the game I relaxed more.”
