Every transfer window brings speculation about whether Weston McKennie will leave Juventus. Recently, the American spoke out about the bias he faces in Juventus, and a January move seemed almost certain. Having recently signed a contract extension that runs until 2026, rumors surfaced about another loan spell, similar to his time at Leeds. Surprisingly, however, McKennie wants to continue with the Bianconeri despite all the drama. 

When McKennie joined the Serie A side on loan during the 2020/21 season, his performances quickly earned him a permanent move to Italy. During his time at the club, McKennie’s technical abilities have been fully utilized, with the American often deployed in a wide range of positions. While handing out gifts in Turin as part of his ‘McKennie’s Magical Youth Mission Project’, the American was asked about his future plans.

“I am happy at Juve, I like living in Turin, I’ve been here for four years and want to stay for as long as possible, but it also depends on the club,” he told the Corriere dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia. When asked about a potential contract renewal, he laughed it off, saying, “Have we already started talking about renewal? I don’t know…”

This is a surprising turn of events as in the Pulisic documentary, Weston McKennie revealed the bias he faces for the colors he represents. Considering the U.S. is not traditionally a major soccer nation, there’s a prejudice that American players are simply not good enough. For McKennie, he had to ‘prove’ himself every year to find his spot on the teamsheet. 

And so far, McKennie has enjoyed proving his critics wrong. The midfielder recently scored a superb volley in the side’s 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League. Showcasing his versatility, McKennie recently played the full 90 minutes as a left-back during Juventus’ 4-0 win over Cagliari.

“As long as I get to play, I don’t mind” – McKennie on playing different positions 

Weston McKennie’s preferred position is the No.8 role, where he gets the freedom to operate in the central areas of the pitch. However, last season, he primarily played as a right wing-back for the Bianconeri when his USMNT teammate Tim Weah was sidelined with an injury.

“As long as I get to play, I don’t mind, I’ll even go in goal. I had actually started out with Allegri on the wing,” says McKennie. Unfortunately, McKennie faces stiff competition from the likes of Thuram, Koopmeiners, and Locatelli for his preferred position in Turin. However, for the USMNT, Mauricio Pochettino will undoubtedly rely on his valuable attributes.

On paper, with Antonee Robinson playing high up the pitch in his new attacking role, McKennie fits in as the perfect defensive cover for Pochettino every time the Fulham player pushes up high. And with Weston more than comfortable to play any position his manager wants to, we can’t wait to see this play out on the pitch. Will any clubs come calling when the January transfer window opens, only time can tell.