Remember when Juventus tried to get rid of Weston McKennie? They even loaned him to Leeds United and cleared out his locker when he returned. Well, the Old Lady must be pretty embarrassed about that now.
The 27-year-old American is absolutely on fire right now. He's scored four goals in just eight games since the start of 2025. More importantly, he's become one of Juventus' most crucial players under new manager Luciano Spalletti.
Spalletti is one of those tactical genius types who thinks outside the box. He famously said "systems no longer exist in football" during his title-winning stint at Napoli. His philosophy? Football is all about finding spaces the opposition leaves open and exploiting them quickly.
And McKennie is the perfect player for this approach. He's what you might call a "position-less" player – or maybe an "every position" player is more accurate.
The Ultimate Utility Man
Last season alone, McKennie played left back, right back, both wing-back positions, defensive midfield, central midfield, right wing, attacking midfield, and even center forward. The only position he hasn't tried is goalkeeper!
Under Spalletti, McKennie usually starts on the right side. But he's got complete freedom to drift inside, get between the lines, and even push up as a second striker. He embodies Spalletti's fluid, system-less philosophy better than anyone else in the squad.
Against Parma last Sunday, McKennie was absolutely brilliant in Juve's 4-1 victory. He scored in the 37th minute and was named man of the match. After the game, he gushed about his new manager: "I have never in my career worked with a coach like this."
What About the USMNT?
Here's where things get interesting for American fans. New USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino left McKennie out of recent friendlies, saying "we already know what he can provide the team." That's a pretty odd excuse given how little time Pochettino has had with his best players.
The big question is where McKennie fits into Pochettino's World Cup plans. He's definitely one of America's best players, but his exact role is unclear. Pochettino seems uncertain about using him in the deeper midfield positions.
That means McKennie might play further forward as one of the dual number 10s. But that position is crowded with Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, and Diego Luna. He could also play on the right side like he does for Juventus, but Pochettino has preferred Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, and Alex Freeman there so far.
If you're betting on USMNT lineups for the World Cup, McKennie's situation is one to watch closely. His current form suggests he should be a guaranteed starter, but Pochettino's choices have been puzzling.
McKennie has made a career out of proving doubters wrong. Almost every season at Juventus has started with rumors he'd be leaving or wouldn't play much. Every single time, he's worked his way back into the team.
Spalletti clearly understands what makes McKennie tick. The Italian manager has built his team to highlight McKennie's strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. Spalletti has nothing but praise for his versatile midfielder: "He fights, he's strong in the air and he can jump high. He plays to get results because he makes decisions. He would be a perfect striker."
Contract talks have reportedly started to keep McKennie at Juventus beyond this season. There have been rumors linking him to Milan, Napoli, and even MLS side FC Cincinnati, but his agent recently called these reports "lies and propaganda."
What's not propaganda is McKennie's importance to this Juventus team. As the club rebuilds, the American has proven he deserves to be a central part of their future. Maybe when he signs that new contract, he can finally get his parking spot back.
