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| AFP Yonhap News |
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'French legend'The two grown sons of Lillian Thurang (52) joined a prestigious Italian club side by side.
Lillian's second son, Kefren Thurang (23), officially transferred to Juventus on the 11th (Korea time). Kefren, a Nice midfielder from Ligue 1, signed a five-year contract for a transfer fee of 20 million euros (about 30 billion won).
Kefren was previously seen visiting the Juventus training center with his father, Lillian, and greeting Juventus' new coach Thiago Mota and club officials. Juventus is the team where his father Lillian stayed from 2001 to 2006. Lillian, the world's top full-back, won two Serie A titles at Juventus.
When asked if he had ever visited the Juventus training center (Stadio Dele Alfie), Kefren said in an interview with the club, `I have been there as a child.'
With a solid build of 1m92, Kefren has the resources to play both central and defensive midfielders. A former AS Monaco youth, he moved to Nice in 2019 and has been a key midfielder for Nice for the past four consecutive seasons, catching the eye of big clubs.
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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After serving in the French national team of all ages, he made his debut in the French national team in March last year after his father's death. Lillian played 142 A matches (two goals) for France from 1994 to 2008. He won the 1998 World Cup in France and the Euro 2000.
Lillian is in a position to watch his two sons compete against each other on the Serie A stage. Marcus Thurang, 27, Lillian's eldest son and Kefren's brother, is a member of Inter Milan. He transferred to Inter Milan in 2023 on a free agent after passing through Sosho, Gang Gang and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and scored 13 goals in 35 league games to lead his team to a Serie A championship.
A funny scene was captured on camera after Marcus confirmed the championship. Lillian slapped Marcus during the trophy ceremony. Lillian, who faced Inter Milan as an enemy during his active career, was consistent with an expressionless face, unlike his smiling son, as if he couldn't accept that Juventus didn't win.
Marcus has already established himself as a regular for the French national team. Since debuting in the A national team in 2020, he has played 24 games so far and scored two goals. He was included in the final list of the Euro 2024 finals and played four games.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
