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Extended Clip - Who Is Jakub Kiwior? The Poland Defensive Sensation Wanted By Juventus, Milan & Napoli
990 Plays3 years ago
Carlo Garganese and Nima Tavallaey do a profile deep-dive on Spezia's Poland international Jakub Kiwior who is being linked with a move to AC Milan, Napoli and Juventus.
This is an extended clip from this weeks free Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.
To listen to ALL complete episodes of The Italian Football Podcast, go to Patreon.com/TIFP and become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
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Transcript
Jakob Keweel's Rise and World Cup Impact
00:00:14
Speaker
First of all, Jakob Keweel, who is a Spezia centre back playing for Poland at the World Cup, having a great season for Spezia and has had a really good start to the World Cup with Poland as well. They're looking in a good place to qualify for the next round.
00:00:25
Speaker
The following is a clip from this week's Italian football podcast.
Interest from Major Clubs
00:00:32
Speaker
Now Juventus, Milan,
00:00:35
Speaker
and Napoli are all interested in signing Kiwi or also some Premier League clubs looking at them as well. So as we do now and again, we do profiles on some of these players. So Nima, what can you tell us about Kiwi or?
00:00:47
Speaker
Well, I think he's had a World Cup that's on par with the season he's had at Spezia.
Career Journey: Anderlecht to Spezia
00:00:57
Speaker
He's only 22 years old. He was born February 15th, 2000. He'll turn 23 soon. And he's really, really exploded onto the scene this year.
00:01:12
Speaker
for both club and country, especially club. I've seen these links and I understand them, but he moved to Spezia in the summer of 2021, if I'm not mistaken, and he's been really, really
00:01:37
Speaker
good there. I mean, his youth team career, he was born in Tichy in Poland, but he had a youth career at Anderlecht. But then after that, he was sold to MSK Zilina. And he played there for about two seasons. And then he went, he's gone on to Spezia, where he's been a mainstay, especially this season. So
Standout Performers of the Season
00:02:03
Speaker
he's been one of the, you know, together with Sabiri, I think he's been one of those, and Fajoli and many others, I think he's been one of those, Sabiri is 25 years old, but if you're talking about players in Provedel, I mean, those who've really broken out this season, I think he's amongst those who've been absolutely outstanding. And I've really enjoyed watching him play, he's tough to play against.
00:02:23
Speaker
He's a good man marker and he knows how to annoy strikers without going over that line. It's a really interesting player. I can understand the links to Milan and to Juve.
Man of the Match Against Napoli
00:02:42
Speaker
Yeah, and he plays as a centre back and he's playing for a team that, let's be honest, it's not a good team. No, they're not. At all. They're a poor team but he still managed to stand out even among these players. I remember watching him against Napoli in a game
00:03:06
Speaker
that Napoli won 1-0 with a 89th-minute goal from Raspadori. In that game, he was man of the match. He made tackle after block after block. He was absolutely magnificent in that game. He must have saved at least about 4-5.
00:03:24
Speaker
four or five goals in that game with last-gas blocks or interceptions.
Defensive Skills and Interceptions
00:03:30
Speaker
He seems to read the game really, really well. He spots the danger really well. He's a tough guy and he's actually second in Serie A for interceptions, for board interceptions. He's got 127
00:03:44
Speaker
interceptions in Serie A this season. Only Corre Gunter of Verona has more with 129. He's got Kim Min-J on 120 and Roger Ibanez and Wallace have got 113 each.
Target for Top Clubs
00:03:59
Speaker
So he's second in the whole of Serie A and his numbers are
00:04:05
Speaker
his numbers in general are just among all the key attributes for defenders in Serie A. He's right up there. So definitely that's why the big clubs are looking at him. You look at Milan, they need to find a replacement for Simon
Praise from Lewandowski and Club Interest
00:04:22
Speaker
Pierre. He's getting old now and I think his body's starting to decline a little bit. He's losing his pace.
00:04:29
Speaker
And then Juventus as well, Bonucci is getting old, and they need to find someone certainly at this, well, I was even saying January potentially. So Napoli as well, I've been linked to him. And I think, as you said earlier, I think Napoli needs someone as well. They've got two great first choice centre backs, but their backups are
00:04:54
Speaker
Juan Jesus, who they'll probably look to replace at the end of the season. And then, okay, Ostergaard, he's young, he could develop, but they definitely need one. So I can see why they want him. And I think he's somebody that Lewandowski is a big fan. Lewandowski spoken about him, how much he likes him. And yeah, he prospects your player to be a first choice player for Poland in the World Cup. Pretty impressive. That definitely shows you his qualities.
00:05:20
Speaker
No, he really does. And I think he's been really good as well in the World Cup for Poland. And I know that Spurs are looking at him as well. No, this is a really exciting player.