Juventus: How the team could look with Weston McKennie starting

New Juventus center midfielder Weston McKennie won’t be a regular starter, but the Bianconeri would have a strong XI with him in the lineup.

There will be some new faces in the Juventus lineup for the 2020-2021 season. In addition to acquiring Arthur Melo in a swap deal with FC Barcelona, the Old Lady of Turin scooped up another quality young center midfielder in Weston McKennie.

Juve have acquired McKennie on a loan deal with an option to buy, with the final figure sent to FC Schalke 04 depending on performance bonuses.

McKennie won’t be a regular starter for Juve, but it’s safe to say he will have a role to play for the Bianconeri in 2020-2021. Andrea Pirlo didn’t acquire McKennie and add him to a thin, aging midfield for no reason.

Here’s a look at how Juve could line up with McKennie, using a 3-5-2.

GK Wojciech Szczesny

Wojciech Szczesny is the best goalkeeper in Serie A and a surefire starter. This spot is the easiest to fill, save for Cristiano Ronaldo on the left.

CB Giorgio Chiellini

The Juventini can only hope that Giorgio Chiellini is fully healthy in 2020-2021, because the Italian football legend still has a lot left to give to the Bianconeri.

CB Leonardo Bonucci

Leonardo Bonucci had a very rough patch of games this summer, but the veteran center back remains one of the best in Serie A. His passing is a huge asset to the club.

CB Matthijs de Ligt

By this time next year, I am confident we will be talking about Matthijs de Ligt as the best center back in Serie A. He is a remarkable player who adds so much in all phases of the game, constantly cleaning up messes and showing the leadership qualities that made him a sensation for Ajax.

LWB Federico Bernardeschi

A new wingback? Federico Bernardeschi’s goal-scoring threat is null, and the right wing position is absolutely not for him. With the brilliant Dejan Kulusevski coming back from his highly successful loan spell at Parma, that position is set. Left back is not. Alex Sandro is the better player, especially defensively. But he’s too uninventive to play as a wing back. Bernardeschi has pace and is a willing runner. That’s what’s needed more, and he could make a very successful transition.

RWB Juan Cuadrado

Nobody is taken for granted more than Juan Cuadrado, who has been an excellent player for years and is one of the best wing backs of his generation. Cuadrado does it all. He defends relentlessly, works tirelessly, and creates and creates. He must start for Juventus in 2020-2021.

CDM Rodrigo Bentancur

Part of the double-pivot, Rodrigo Bentancur is a player who loves to defend and keep his side’s shape. The unselfish Uruguayan has all the qualities to develop into one of Serie A’s best midfielders.

CDM Arthur Melo

Arthur Melo is the ball-carrying midfielder of the two with the high-class dribbling skills and ability to join the attack. Arthur is a game-changing signing for Juventus and must be treated as such by Pirlo.

CAM Weston McKennie

Although Weston McKennie played a deeper role at Schalke and was used more as a box-to-box midfielder, the reality is that his club had no idea of what to do with him. They played him anywhere and everywhere with little regard to his development, even throwing him as an emergency option at center back and right back. McKennie has a lot more to give as an attacking midfielder. Trust me on that.

LF Cristiano Ronaldo

A roaming left forward with the full license to drift inside, Cristiano Ronaldo is still the world’s foremost goal-scoring machine. Juventus could be doing so much more to help their superstar player succeed.

RF Paulo Dybala

The best player on the team, Paulo Dybala must be made untransferable. He could match Ronaldo’s goal-scoring output in 2020-2021 in this formation with Cuadrado and McKennie creating behind him. And throw in Kulusevski, too, if he can play right wing back.