Weston McKennie is relishing the opportunity to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, hailed as one of the greats of the game.
Schalke 04 struggled in Bundesliga last season. One of their shining lights was American international, Weston McKennie.
The midfielder impressed for the Royal Blues and earned a move to Juventus. McKennie is eagerly waiting to start at the Allianz Arena, savoring the prospect of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Playing with Ronaldo, seeing how he moves and how he works will bring me great benefits,” Football Italia quoted McKennie.
The 19 times capped player joins Andrea Pirlo’s already burgeoning midfield ranks. McKennie explained his rationale behind joining Juventus, pointing at their rich history and commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The idea of coming to play here, at a club with a great history, it excited me,” McKennie said at the press conference. “The club immediately supported my commitment to Black Lives Matter.
“There was no need to convince me to come to Juventus because being here is a dream that has become reality.”
“It’s a great honor to be the first American player in the history of Juventus. Having the opportunity to wear this shirt, representing my country and bringing young Americans closer to football makes me proud,” he added.
The youngster believes he has all the ingredients to become a regular for Andrea Pirlo. He highlighted his ball recovery skills and believes the new manager appreciates his skills.
“My strong point is the recovery of possession,” McKennie added. “I talked to Pirlo and he appreciates this feature.”
“We are on the same wavelength as to my position on the pitch.”