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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Moved to Germany at the age of 17</li><li>Snubbed scholarship offer in the States</li><li>Now a key man for club &amp; country</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Explained: How ignoring family advice made Weston McKennie a USMNT & Juventus star – with confident American always pursuing ‘plan A’ in Europe

The all-action 25-year-old is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/no-christian-pulisic-why-usmnt-stars-missed-out-top-100-footballers-2023-jesse-marsch-explains-elite-snub/blt9e61dbd90e300a64" target="_blank">now an experienced performer at the very highest level</a>, but he started down a path to the top of world football by taking a brave decision when still in his teens. McKennie opted to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-christian-pulisic-tim-weah-weston-mckennie-nfl-mode-usmnt-camp-juventus-tom-brady-odell-beckham-jr-impressions/bltf42992ce9d3fc2e4 " target="_blank">shun a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia</a> in order to link up with Schalke in Germany, with calls from his father and brother to stick with education and a more secure future falling on deaf ears.

WHAT HAPPENED?

McKennie has told <a href="https://www.8by8mag.com/weston-mckennie/ " target="_blank">EightbyEight</a> of his scenic career path and why he chose to gamble on making it big: “My mom was like, ‘Follow your heart. Do what you think is best. Whatever you decide, I’m going to support you.’ She always knew that I wanted to become a professional soccer player. That was my dream, that was my goal, that was my plan A. That’s when I decided: If I go to college and nothing works out for me in soccer, I’m always going to live with regret. And then I might develop a resentment toward my family because I’m going to think the whole time, Why didn’t I go with what I wanted? Why did I let someone else make the decision or influence me on it? So I said, ‘I’m gonna go. And then if it doesn’t work out, at least it’s on me.’”

WHAT MCKENNIE SAID

Things have worked out for McKennie, as he is currently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/watch-usmnt-wizard-weston-mckennie-viral-outrageous-double-footed-control-juventus-warm-up/blt0ca81be2ece92af6" target="_blank">enjoying a welcome return to form and favour at Serie A giants Juve</a>. His <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/headless-chicken-joker-pack-how-usmnt-star-weston-mckennie-juventus/bltf36154795439f6f6" target="_blank">versatility is being put to good use in 2023-24</a>, with the confident 25-year-old happy to play wherever he is required. McKennie added on the positional questions that continue to be asked of him: “I’ve always experienced being the joker player, the one that people can put in any position. When I was at Schalke, I think the only positions I didn’t play were left-back and goalkeeper. Whatever I get asked to do, I always try to be the best at it. At Schalke, that probably didn’t work in my favour, because if I really love to play midfield and want to become great in that position but they see that I can also play good in this or that other position, then obviously I’m going to play those positions as well.“At Juventus, honestly, I don’t mind which position I play. Whether it’s right back or midfield, I enjoy both. I think I can put in a good performance in both areas. Whatever the coach wants, I’ll do. Whatever helps the team. I have no ego when it comes to being on the field. I just really want the team to win and to reach that plan A right now, which is to qualify for Champions League and win the league.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

McKennie – who has 49 senior international caps to his name - has helped to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/sounds-nice-weston-mckennie-wants-earn-big-2024-juventus-usmnt/blt4df57b94b37524df" target="_blank">push Juventus into title contention this season</a>, as they sit two points adrift of leaders Inter in the Serie A table, and there has also been talk of him <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/explained-how-suspended-paul-pogba-influencing-future-usmnt-weston-mckennie-juventus/blt98f8bfd9bcb07fef" target="_blank">earning an extension to a contract in Turin</a> that is due to expire in the summer of 2025.

WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?

Explained: How ignoring family advice made Weston McKennie a USMNT & Juventus star – with confident American always pursuing ‘plan A’ in Europe | Goal.com India

Weston McKennie has explained how ignoring family advice allowed him to pursue “Plan A” in Europe and become a star for Juventus and the USMNT.

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