Juventus: Weston McKennie will be a big surprise in 2020-2021

Juventus acquired Weston McKennie on loan from Schalke this summer, and he’s ready to be a breakout star in Turin.

When Juventus added Weston McKennie on loan from Schalke, many fans of the Old Lady were surprised at the acquisition. The loan will cost Juve 4.5 million euros, and the deal includes an option to buy of 18 million euros.

So in total, if Juve like what they see, they could end up signing McKennie permanently for 22.5 million euros. But if they like what they see and believe he has a long-term future to the club, then a young, ascending center midfielder with versatility at other positions is worth significantly more than this fee. So McKennie could be a steal in the long run for the Bianconeri.

Schalke sold McKennie for three reasons. Firstly, they needed the cash. Secondly, McKennie wanted a new challenge. And thirdly, McKennie was one of the few non-starters the club could sell since they are so strong in midfield with Omar Mascarell, Suat Serdar, and Amine Harit.

McKennie being loaned out for cash by a struggling Schalke side is not an indictment against McKennie’s ability. Far from it. If anything, Schalke, who have failed to get the most out of many of their talented players in the past two seasons, can be the ones criticized for forcing McKennie to play at positions like center back and right back instead of adequately developing the American.

Weston McKennie can flourish at Juventus

With Andrea Pirlo and a better organization, McKennie can flourish in Turin’s midfield next season. In the 5-0 friendly win over Novara, McKennie showed that he can be a key piece of the midfield with his ability to join attacks, recover the ball in midfield, and do everything in the center of the pitch as a high-energy player.

Schalke often misused McKennie as more of a defensive player. While McKennie has all the tools of a box-to-box midfielder, he can play more of an attacking role than Schalke, who often played scared in the past two seasons, asked of him.

Pirlo will not play scared, and he will not hold back young footballers. An accomplished legend like Pirlo will play bravely, and if anyone can get the most out of a hard-working 22-year-old midfielder, then it is the Italian football legend.

McKennie was a known name to Bundesliga fans, in addition to American fans. To most Serie A fans and the Juventini, McKennie is an unknown. He is a young player with unproven statistics who failed to nail down a starting spot for one of the Bundesliga’s worst teams in the last two seasons.

But he is a legitimate star in the making. McKennie has some technical issues and isn’t the fastest or strongest player. However, he’s so good at so many different things. Most importantly, he has the work ethic, intelligence, creativity, efficiency, and adaptability to quickly grow into a good player in Serie A and, eventually, something more. If he is written off now, then he will shock his doubters by the end of the 2020-2021 season.