05 November 2026
“We Are Youth | Talent of the Month” is Juventus.com’s monthly feature that introduces you to the stars of Next Gen and the Bianconeri’s youth teams.
The star of October 2026 is Next Gen striker Arman Durmisi, who is 18 years old. Her spoke to us about his early days in Slovenia alongside his brother Dajan, through his debut in Serie C, to the thrilling experiences he’s had with the First Team.
From other sports to the joy of his first goal
“I started playing football when I was very young. I played lots of sports, I also played volleyball, handball and basketball, but in the end, football was the one I liked best of all. I can’t quite remember the very first time I touched a ball, but my first clear memory is of a match when I was very young: it was raining and I scored my first goal. I was absolutely delighted after that day, it’s a really lovely memory. As a child, I played in just about every position, but when I scored that first goal, I realised straight away that that was where I belonged.”
The importance of family and his journey with his brother
There is one fundamental constant in Arman’s journey: his family and the figure of his father, a pillar of support for both him and his brother as they grew up.
“My family has been absolutely vital. My father has always supported both me and my brother. To me, he is a role model I will never forget, because he gave his all to ensure we could reach certain heights. Without him, I’d never have made it to a place like this. My brother and I have travelled most of this journey together, it’s been brilliant playing with him because he knows me so well. I hope that one day we’ll be able to play together again, or perhaps face each other as opponents in a big match.”
The move to Turin and settling into life at Juventus
"Joining a big club like Juventus alongside my brother made it even better. Everything was new here, new people, a new environment, but as there were two of us, we helped each other out. At first we didn’t speak the language and it was a bit difficult, but in my first year, two of my compatriots, Raffaele Huli and Kris Gecaj, helped me a great deal. And off the pitch? I’m happy in Turin; it’s a lovely city and at Juve you really have everything you need, nothing’s missing. In my spare time, I like playing on the PlayStation with my friends and chatting on the phone with my closest friends who’ve stayed behind in Slovenia. Whenever I’ve got a few days off, I go back to see them.”
On the pitch: from Messi to Suárez and Ibrahimović
“I’m a player who lives to score goals; if I had to describe myself to someone who doesn’t know me, that’s how I’d put it. My childhood idol has always been Lionel Messi, even though I don’t play in his position. But amongst the strikers who have always inspired me and whom I like the most is Luis Suárez. He’s always been ruthless in front of goal, technically brilliant, knows how to play as part of the team and can do practically everything. And then another source of inspiration is definitely Zlatan Ibrahimović.”
Debut with the first team and development in the Next Gen
"In Slovenia, after playing in the youth ranks, I took the next step up to the first team and really felt the difference. In these environments, you grow not only physically but, above all, mentally. The most important thing is your mindset; if you have confidence in yourself, you play more calmly and then things just fall into place on the pitch. The move from the Under-20s to Next Gen amongst the professionals is helping me a great deal. Serie C is an extremely tough league. The defenders are bigger and more experienced, and there’s a lot of tactical play.
"With Coach Brambilla’s staff, we’re focusing particularly on our defensive play. Sometimes a striker just wants to attack, but in today’s football, you also need to help the team. It’s a learning curve to eventually make it into the first team. At the moment, I’m getting on really well with my teammates. I get on well with everyone, including the manager. I talk a lot with his coaching staff, who give me daily advice on how to keep raising my game. Playing for Juve isn’t like playing for just any club – it has a massive history. Knowing that the club has faith in me makes me absolutely delighted and really motivates me. I’m on the right track so far, but it’s always up to me to keep performing well.”
The summer training camp and the tour of Asia and Australia
The summer gave Arman a taste of the very highest level as he trained with the first team and took part in the international tour: “Training with the first team was a wonderful experience. The standard is very high and the ball moves faster, but when you play with such strong teammates, they ultimately help you play well too. At first you feel a bit out of your depth, but then you get used to it because the players talk to you and put you at ease. The tour of China and Australia was brilliant; I even played in a match. Sharing the pitch and the attack with players of the calibre of Kenan Yildiz and Edon Zhegrova, or opponents like Estevao, is incredible. Sometimes you wonder if it’s real because everything’s moving so fast. At first I was a bit nervous, but it was the right kind of nervousness, without any anxiety. Then, as soon as you step onto the pitch, you forget everything and just focus on playing.”
Goals and dreams for the future
“I haven’t done too much planning for this season, but the main aim is to do well with the Next Gen side, developing both as a team and as a player. It would also be fantastic to make my debut and score a goal for the First Team. My biggest dream is to win something important in this shirt. And my dream from when I was a child? Well, I think it’s the same as everyone else’s: to win the Ballon d’Or.”
