Celebration like a Sergeant (like Milinkovic), performances like a Magician. In the Netherlands, he was compared to Toni Kroos, now Taylor is studying to become a Luis Alberto. His first spell with Genoa broke the ice and ended the silence; the next must fill the void at the Olimpico after an even more contested transfer window finale: ‘I hope to celebrate with the fans as soon as possible.’ Kenneth is the only fully accomplished and consecrated reinforcement (in fact, paid 15 million plus bonuses to Ajax, who retained 10%), landing in Formello this chilly January. It’s no coincidence that Sarri threw him in during the absolute emergency in Verona, without even a warm-up training session.
Since January 11th, the Dutchman hasn’t missed a game: four consecutive starts, never before had Mau given such unconditional trust to a new signing. In Turin, he’ll again be one of the midfield pillars: it would be magnificent if he found his second goal of the season against Juventus. The first at home almost went unnoticed during the general strike of a black Friday (today comes the organized supporters’ decision about the protest in the match against Atalanta on February 14th). Kenneth’s celebration in front of a ghostly Curva Nord was also restrained.
Condition
It’s not all darkness. Taylor can bring light back to Lazio. He’s the missing quality quotient, a versatile joker with the right runs and a veteran’s vision. In the summer, he attracted interest from Napoli and Roma; in winter, Fabiani snatched him from Fenerbahce’s grasp and denounced the intermediaries who tried to interfere. The 2002-born gem is playing on the left but can also play as a right mezzala, with Olympic calm in the screening phase (the own goal caused by Lazzari at Bentegodi started from his recovery). You have only glimpsed his full repertoire: a clever, rarely-fouling runner (one yellow card every ten matches), with his 182 centimeters he can also score headers (five goals in the last five years).
He seems cold, but inside he has fire like Luis Alberto: he’s a crowd and opponent stirrer, often silencing them after his goals. Imagine him under the Sud in a derby, with that surname that recalls another eternal banter. In total, 26 goals and 21 assists since 2021: Taylor is among five midfielders (born from 2002 onwards) to have surpassed both the twenty-goal and twenty-assist mark, together with Bellingham (Real), Wirtz (Liverpool), Xavi Simons (Tottenham), and Musiala (Bayern Munich). Ten Hag had him debut in the Eredivisie just after turning eighteen in December 2020; two years later, Kenneth exploded both at home (first Van Gaal’s national team call-up) and at European level, with a gem nearly scored against Lazio in 2024.
Personality
The captain of the Lancers needed new motivation, and he can find it at Formello: ‘The project convinced me, the desire to play for a great club and in one of the best leagues in the world. Sarri told me to move the ball quickly with one or two touches and to play vertically.’ The tasks of the old Luis Alberto, maybe with a less languid rhythm: ‘He comes from a period of inactivity due to the winter break in the Eredivisie – Mau’s justification – and his condition still needs to return to its peak.’ The boy born in Alkmaar arrived in the Capital with his girlfriend Jane Adda, a well-known Dutch influencer born in 2004, but he remains focused on the pitch: ‘My goal is to bring here the experience gained at Ajax and win many trophies. My strength is that I never give up, I’m stubborn.’
Such a personality is needed right now. Meanwhile, Taylor has chosen the number 24 shirt (‘For Kobe Bryant’), there will be time for the number 10 that once belonged to Luis Alberto (and now to Zaccagni, currently sidelined). Now, all that’s needed is to bring back a bit of imagination, a rainbow at Lazio.

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