How Balotelli, Ronaldo and Mancini have helped Juventus' young star

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Just who is the 19-year-old Juventus striker who claims to be stealing all of Cristiano Ronaldo's football "secrets"?

Ronaldo scored the away goal that puts Juventus in charge of their Champions League quarter-final against Ajax, and is likely to be the centre of attention at Tuesday's second leg in Turin - but watch out for Moise Kean. The teenager may not be a household name yet. But those in the know are tipping him to become one. He has broken records in Italy and Europe, and has six goals in his past six appearances for club and country. Even though Juve surprisingly lost at SPAL last weekend, he will surely finish the season as a Serie A title winner. But what is his story? Why is he so good? And how has he taken inspiration from Mario Balotelli?

A home-grown hero

Kean was born on 28 February 2000, in northern Italy to Ivorian parents, and spent six years in Juventus' academy.

Even before he made his senior breakthrough, he was making an impact. His total of 24 goals in 25 games for Juve's reserves during the 2015-16 season led to reports of interest from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and from Arsenal. At 16, Kean was offered a professional contract by Juventus. On 19 November 2016, he became the club's youngest first-team debutant, aged 16 years, eight months and 23 days.

Three days later, he made further history as the first player born in the 2000s to make his Champions League debut. On the final day of the 2016-17 season, he became the first footballer born in the 21st century to score in Serie A, with a last-minute winner in a 2-1 victory at Bologna. However, Kean made only four senior appearances during his debut campaign. So last season, he headed out on loan to Verona in search of regular first-team football. His total of four goals in 19 league games could not prevent relegation to Serie B, but the experience proved invaluable.

As French football journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues Podcast: "I think the loan spell did him so good at a young age.

"Do you stay at a club like Juventus, where you are not going to play that much but train with Miralem Pjanic and Giorgio Chiellini? Or is it better to go and be the best at training but at least you play nearly every week? In his case, at least it looks like that loan did him a lot of good." Kean returned to Turin to find that Juve had signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid for £99.2m. His response? To take a football education from the new arrival.

"I learn from Cristiano Ronaldo in training; I steal his secrets," said Kean earlier this year. "I always try to be ready and train regularly so that I'm prepared when the time comes. "I know that I still have so many records to beat and I intend to beat them."