Weston McKennie of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team has rapidly become one of the brightest young stars in North American soccer. The 24-year-old midfielder is widely considered a versatile player, capable of making an impact in any area he is asked to contribute. As a result, he has gained recognition for his outstanding performances as both a defensive and attacking presence throughout his career.
McKennie has been able to showcase his skills at some top clubs around Europe, including Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga and Juventus F.C. in Italy’s Serie A. He has also made an international name for himself with several appearances for the U.S. National team, helping them to qualify for this summer’s World Cup with several key goals and assists throughout their qualifying campaign.
Bundesliga Era
The American soccer phenom began his senior club career at Bundesliga side Schalke 04 in 2016. After being promoted from the U19s, he made his professional debut on Matchday 34 in May 2017., as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Ingolstadt. In 2017, the young midfielder established himself as an integral member of the Schalke first-team squad, playing 25 games and scoring two goals throughout the season.
“I made the right decision, and I don’t regret it at all,” he said when asked about his decision to move to European soccer. “It wasn’t easy for me to let go of FC Dallas. But you’ve got to think, ‘Will I look back in 10 years and wish I could’ve gone over to Europe?’ I feel like if you can make it there, you can come back over here and play at a high level. But if, as a kid, you go into MLS and then try to come over to Europe, you might not be ready.”
His performances earned McKennie praise from both fans and professionals alike for his intelligence and technical ability on the ball. He also quickly gained attention for his versatility; he was regularly deployed as a central midfielder but could also play in any of the attacking or defensive positions when required by the manager.
A great experience in the World Cup
At his young age, McKennie has already had the opportunity to represent the United States in various categories, but none as important as the one he had last November at the World Cup in Qatar.
The player said that this experience raised his confidence.
“We were unlucky, we had a couple of chances that could have ended up inside, but obviously, we’re not going to blame anyone. Christian (Pulisic) has done very important things for his country and soccer. We know that it is a collective issue, and we have to support each other, we had a common goal for four years, and this tournament restored our idea of believing; it restored much of what we expect and the respect we generate for our country.
We are definitely on our way; I think we showed that we can compete with the best teams. We earn respect for U.S. Soccer by the way we play. It is something that we wanted to demonstrate in the World Cup,” said the player and added.
“We had a good group stage; obviously, the Netherlands was going to be difficult. It is what it is; we have to learn from this experience. America’s mindset is never to give up, America is the land of opportunity, and I think we did very well. We are out, that sucks, but at the same time, we recognize the work done”.
Uncertain future
In 2020 McKennie joined Juventus Turin, becoming the first USA player to join the iconic club. But the club’s financial problems, coupled with the fact that manager Massimiliano Allegri does not have a plan for the player, have seen him put on the transfer list at the cost of €40 million.
Next team odds
Borussia Dortmund +300
Bournemouth +1200
Newcastle +1400
Sources close to the player reported that Bournemouth has already submitted an offer but that McKennie has refused to negotiate terms with the club, as he expects an offer from a larger club with participation in European competitions.
All in all, betting on Weston McKennie’s next team is an incredibly popular topic amongst football fans, and with so many potential destinations, bettors will have plenty of options to choose from.
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