Why USMNT star Weston McKennie can be ‘devastating’ for Juventus despite manager admitting that he has ‘technical’ flaws

The United States international has seen his slate wiped clean in Turin for 2023-24. McKennie spent the second half of last season suffering relegation out of the Premier League during a loan spell at Leeds and appeared destined to be on the move in the summer transfer window.

Allegri has handed the American a second chance in Italy, and the versatile 25-year-old has grabbed that with both hands. Despite being more at home in the middle of the park, McKennie has been impressing in an unnatural right wing-back berth – where he competes with international colleague Tim Weah for minutes.

Juve are delighted to see McKennie proving his worth, as they piece together a Serie A title challenge, with Allegri telling reporters of how he has rekindled the spark in a once fading light: “Wes is having a good season, I think he is maturing too after the experience on loan. I spoke to him too, he has physical strength that helps cover for a few technical errors, but when running into space, he can be devastating. I told him at the start of the season that this was a very important year for him, he would be a wing-back and so he had to run back and forth. He put himself at our disposal.”

McKennie has figured in all 12 of Juventus’ Serie A fixtures this season, helping them to a 29-point haul that has the Bianconeri sat second in the table – two points adrift of league leaders and arch-rivals Inter.