Conceicao: "I was the one who suggested my son join Juventus."

As *La Gazzetta dello Sport* revealed the 2024 Golden Boy Award nominees, they also interviewed former FC Porto coach Sérgio Conceição, who discussed the development of young talents, as well as his son Francisco Conceição, who currently plays for Juventus.

"Developing young talents requires a lot of effort in both the initial and final stages. At the top level, football becomes highly competitive—some succeed, while others don’t. Some players lack essential qualities, like mentality and an understanding of football as a demanding profession. Over time, the game becomes more intense, faster, and more aggressive. Some youngsters are already technically strong, but as coaches, we must be smart enough to teach them much more than just technical skills. I remember the example of Luis Díaz, who came to Porto from a small club in Colombia, and a year and a half later, he moved to Liverpool. But there are many other examples—everyone has their own personality and traits. Clubs also need to create the conditions for coaches to develop these talents. Many young players don’t succeed, and sometimes, a small thing can help guide them in the right direction," Conceição said.

On Francisco Conceição missing the Juventus-Lazio match due to suspension, he said: "As a fan of Italian football, I always follow these great matches. It would be fantastic to see him play against a club that holds a special place in my heart. I won many honors at Lazio, and in 1998, I scored my first goal in Italy for Lazio against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana. I regret that Francisco can’t play in this game, but it will be an exciting match."

“Francisco has had a good start at Juventus. He’s fast and excels in one-on-one situations. This summer, I advised him to join Juventus, even though two or three top clubs were interested in signing him. Juventus is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I knew he would perform well in Italy, but at the same time, he needs to improve in other areas—stay humble, listen to his coach and teammates, and always ask himself what more he can do to get better. Once he takes control of his own career, things will get easier because he won’t be distracted and can focus on moving forward. It’s not easy—he will need to work hard. He knows what he needs to do. As for my future return to Italy? Today, I’m happy to be attending the Golden Boy Awards, but tomorrow’s plans can wait.”

Francisco Conceição, 21, joined Juventus on loan from Porto this summer. So far this season, he has made four appearances for Juventus, starting once, but has already contributed two goals and one assist. Due to being sent off with a red card after receiving two yellow cards in Juventus’ 1-1 draw against Cagliari in Serie A's 7th round, Francisco Conceição will miss this weekend’s high-profile match between Juventus and Lazio.