Isabella Vieira had always been a football fanatic. Growing up between Manchester and Lisbon, she spent countless weekends in front of the TV, watching football matches with her father. When she moved to Turin after landing her dream job as a digital media coordinator for Juventus, she couldn't believe her luck. Working for one of the biggest football clubs in the world felt surreal, and Isabella threw herself into every project, eager to prove her passion.
One afternoon, Isabella was called into a meeting for a promotional campaign featuring the younger players of the club. Her team was tasked with creating content that would humanize the players—something the fans could connect to. As she skimmed through the list of athletes, one name jumped out at her: Kenan Yildiz.
Kenan was one of the most talked-about young talents at the club. A dynamic forward, he had quickly made a name for himself on the field and was gaining attention not only in Italy but also for his performances with Turkey's national team. Isabella had seen him play several times, as she'd attended every game since moving to Turin, his creativity and vision always making an impression on her.
Later that week, while setting up for a photoshoot at the Juventus training facility, Isabella was busy arranging the lighting when Kenan arrived. He was early, his presence understated as he quietly strolled into the studio in his training gear. His calm demeanor and focus instantly struck her.
Isabella noticed him looking around, as if unsure where to go. She approached, clipboard in hand. His notes stated his preferred language was English, which was perfect as she hadn't completely grasped Italian yet.
"Kenan, right?" she asked with a smile, trying to maintain her professionalism despite the small flutter of excitement in her chest. "I'm Isabella. I'll be handling the shoot today."
Kenan nodded, his gaze locking onto hers. "Nice to meet you," he said, his tone polite but slightly guarded. "What's the plan for today?"
She explained the concept briefly, her enthusiasm for football slipping into her words. "We're trying to show the side of you the fans don't usually get to see. You know, the person behind the player."
Kenan raised an eyebrow, his expression softening. "The person behind the player? That sounds deep."
Isabella chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I guess that's the point. Everyone sees you on the pitch, but there's more to you than what happens during 90 minutes."
He considered her words for a moment before responding. "And you're the one capturing that?"
She smiled again, more genuinely this time. "I am."
The shoot began, and as the session progressed, Isabella found herself impressed by Kenan's natural ease in front of the camera. He was cooperative, even cracking a few jokes in between shots. The more they talked, the more she realized how down-to-earth he was despite his growing fame.
During a break, Kenan wandered over to where Isabella was reviewing the photos. "Mind if I take a look?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied, turning the screen towards him.
He leaned in, studying the images closely. "You make me look good," he said, his tone light but his gaze lingering on her face.
Isabella laughed, feeling a bit flustered. "That's my job."
There was a brief silence, one that felt charged with an unspoken connection. Kenan looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "You really know football, don't you?"
"Since I could walk," Isabella replied, unable to hide her pride.
Kenan smiled, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "I can tell."
From that moment, something shifted between them. Their exchanges during the shoot grew more personal, the professional barrier slowly starting to fade. It was subtle, but Isabella could feel it—a spark, a shared passion for the sport that ran deeper than the camera lens. And though it was early, she sensed that this wasn't going to be just another ordinary workday.
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Thank you for reading! I hope it's off to a good start. I have plenty of ideas for this story but it's going to be sort of a slow-burn one. Also certain things might not be completely accurate.
Feel free to leave any feedback on any of the chapters ❤️
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Right Place to Say "I Love You" - Kenan Yildiz
Fanfiction"I don't want to risk everything I've worked for, but... I don't want to walk away from you either." "Then don't." Isabella has her dream job working behind the scenes at Juventus, but things get complicated when rising football star Kenan Yildiz st...
