Juventus Midfielder Revitalized After Several Refusals

For the second summer in a row, Weston McKennie worked his way back into the squad after being frozen out and dangled on the transfer market. He was reinstated in the final week of the window. It had become apparent that he wouldn’t leave, and, more importantly, he started negotiating an extension. The talks did have a positive outcome, although the parties agreed to a short-term renewal until 2026.

It didn’t take long for the USMNT to convince Thiago Motta. He got the start over Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram against PSV Eindhoven and hit the net with a textbook finish.

According to Nicolò Schira, McKennie received several bids during the summer but rejected them all. He turned down Aston Villa, as he was supposed to be part of the swap centered around Luiz instead of Enzo Barrenechea.

Moreover, Fiorentina, Galatasaray, Atalanta, Everton, Inter Miami, and a Saudi team also tried to onboard him to no avail. Juventus were open for business as they didn’t want to lose him for nothing at the end of the season since his previous contract would have expired in 2025. They would have settled for a moderate fee.

Our Take on McKennie

It’s a peculiar situation that had little to do with his performances on the pitch, where he’s always been serviceable, and mostly stems from economic aspects. Props to him for sticking it out. The renewal was a band-aid, and he’ll be in the same situation at the end of the season. Technically speaking, his dynamism comes in handy in a midfield that lacks a bit of pace, at least until Thuram and Luiz fully round into shape.