Juventus Next Gen coach hints at quick promotion for Felix Afena-Gyan after stunning debut

Juventus Next Gen coach Paolo Montero has hinted that Ghanaian striker Felix Afena-Gyan could be promoted to the first team soon after making a stunning debut.

Afena-Gyan, who joined Juventus on loan from Cremonese for the 2024/25 season, impressed in his first outing for the Next Gen squad, scoring a sensational goal in a 3-1 loss to Catania in Serie C.

Despite the defeat, the 21-year-old stole the spotlight with a powerful strike, earning the Bianconeri a consolation goal.

Montero, speaking after the match, praised the young forward and suggested that Afena-Gyan might not stay with the Next Gen team for long.

"Felix is a nice and cheerful person. Let’s hope that his personality helps him become a top player," Montero said in his post-match interview, as reported by JuventusNews24.

He added, "You have to have the right responsibility in our roles. We know what the project is, our job is to make the players grow. Felix is an added value, so let’s hope it lasts a little longer and that they don’t immediately send him to the senior squad," he joked.

Afena-Gyan, who rose to prominence at Roma during the 2021/22 season under Jose Mourinho, joins Juventus with significant experience, unlike many of the younger players typically recruited for the Next Gen squad.

His potential promotion to the senior team would add another layer to his already notable rise in Italian football.