This was clear.”. One week after joining his new club for training, Weston McKennie was introduced to Italian media on Monday with a new challenge on the horizon in Italy. Sep 7, 2020 TURIN, Italy (AP) — Weston McKennie opened his first news conference as a Juventus player on Monday with a bit of cultural flair, speaking in Italian. “But if I could choose between a German club and a foreign club, I would prefer the foreign club, because then he’s not playing in your league. It went winless across nine Bundesliga games, sliding out of the European places and into the bottom half of the table. They’re in a good process to make him match-fit, so that he will be able to play on this level,” Schneider said. Hailing from the football-crazy Ruhr region of western Germany, Schalke packed around 62,000 fans per game into the Veltins-Arena, pre-pandemic. A versatile player, McKennie is capable of playing in a multitude of positions in midfield—mainly as a box-to-box or as a deep-lying … Weston McKennie, (8-28-1998, Texas, USA) is becoming Juventus' surprise player. Again, one could argue that a transfer to St. Mary’s would be a small step up. Governor Bill Lee said the bill will "preserve women's athletics and ensure fair competition. “They have known each other for a long time, so they called Michael and they were asking if there would be a possibility to get Weston. In soccer, there are big clubs and Big Clubs. TURIN, Italy -- It’s official: Midfielder Weston McKennie has become the first American player at Juventus. Christian Pulisic’s $73 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea set a new bar, not only in value but in terms of a Big Club’s recognition of potential in a young American player. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images). I cover Italy's Serie A and international competitions. The next American graduate of that academy is Nick Taitague, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder/winger from the Richmond, Va., area who has earned promotion to Schalke’s first team after three years at the club. Juventus have completed the permanent signing of USMNT international Weston McKennie from Schalke in an €18.5 million ($22.3 million, £16 million) deal, payable over three years. It's impossible not to think about his goal against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, or the one in the Derby della Mole - his first in the black and white jersey.” reads a statement on the Juventus website. TURIN, Italy (AP) — Weston McKennie opened his first news conference as a Juventus player on Monday with a bit of cultural flair, speaking in Italian. It’s going to be a win-win situation. “It is a great honor to be the first American player in the history of Juventus," McKennie said Monday. McKennie was officially loaned to Serie A side Juventus last week from Bundesliga club Schalke, providing a new and exciting opportunity for the young … He’s still a great player—still a fantastic person. “I think the academies of the American clubs are getting better and better, and the young American kids are really well developed when they come over—technically especially, not as much in tactics,” Schneider said. Oscar De La Hoya hasn't fought since losing to Manny Pacquiao in December 2008, four months before he announced his retirement. “I wouldn’t call [the loan] a trial. “First of all, he’s a great football player. And those who follow or work in the sport are well aware of the differences. Schneider did confirm he wasn’t contacted by the latter. Beyond Barcelona and Real Madrid, Juventus is arguably the most famous European team that’s never featured an American. Texas-born McKennie originally moved to the Allianz Stadium last summer on a loan deal and has hit the ground running since arriving in Turin. The lack of match-day revenue since the Bundesliga shut down temporarily in early March, plus Schalke’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in four of the past five seasons (not to mention that 2020-21 will be the third in four without European football of any kind), has hit the bottom line hard. Juventus’ number 14 has shown remarkable tactical intelligence and injected a sense of dynamism into the Bianconeri midfield, showing the potential to play a key role for the Italian giants in the future. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, first American to sign with mighty Juventus, Juve was cruising to a ninth consecutive Serie A championship, Blaise Matuidi to MLS expansion team Inter Miami, Matthew Hoppe, a 19-year-old from Orange County, Calif. ", SI Fantasy's Michael Fabiano takes an in-depth look how free agency roster moves hurt some players, Michael Fabiano takes an in-depth look at the winners & losers of the 2021 NFL free agency period, SI Fantasy analyst Michael Fabiano logs the impact of the fantasy noteworthy moves during the 2021 NFL offseason. “Before COVID, I would not have sold him for this amount of money. He’s not the tallest one. McKennie’s was up for discussion. The bill is the third one passed in the U.S. this year. “Since the restart of the Bundesliga, he was by far the best player [at Schalke] and in certain matches, by himself he was carrying the team,” said Schneider, who spent more than three years at Red Bull before arriving in Gelsenkirchen. Here's a quick primer. The Bianconeri will pay Schalke 04 a fee of $22,3 million with a future add-on of $7,8 million payable depending on performance-related issues. This American football star just found out why Italian television presenter Diletta Leotta has more than seven million Instagram followers. This is what helps them a lot when they come to Europe at such a young age.”. But when Juventus showed up, this is probably one of the top six clubs in the world. They have spirit, and now they have proof of concept. The 22-year-old has signed a contract at the Serie A champions until June 2025, the club have confirmed on Wednesday with a statement on their official website. “Overall we negotiated with two other clubs, one German club and one Premier League club. If the player’s development is faster than the club’s development, which it was in Weston’s case in the past two years, and a big club like Juventus is knocking on our door, we have to talk to them. So there are many reasons why Weston was such an attractive target.”. In half a season, McKennie scored the same amount of goals he netted in four years at Schalke 04, certifying his exceptional improvement. You’ll get tossed about. Italian soccer giant Juventus have exercised the option to make USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie’s move from German side Schalke 04 permanent. Schalke also has big belief in its academy, which is renowned for producing players like Manuel Neuer, Julian Draxler, Benedikt Höwedes, Leroy Sané and Thilo Kehrer, among others. If he stays there permanently or if he will come back. Weston was just so keen to go to such a huge club,” Schneider said. ALLIANZ STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY - 2021/02/06: Weston McKennie of Juventus FC reacts during the Serie A ... [+] football match between Juventus FC and AS Roma. We communicated that quite openly and that’s why other clubs approached us and said, ‘Listen, we would be interested to sign Weston McKennie.’”, “It’s a combination of many reasons,” Schneider said. “When we didn’t qualify for Europe, plus COVID, that brought us to the decision that we had to sell one player. Hertha Berlin was interested. What Role Does Christian Pulisic Have To Play In Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea? Imagine a storm at sea, with waves and fierce winds. This is how Weston McKennie, a 22-year-old midfielder with three Bundesliga seasons already under his belt, wound up becoming the first American to sign with mighty Juventus. But that second figure could rise to as high as €25.5 million ($30.2 million) if McKennie and/or the club hit certain benchmarks. McKennie FaceTimed with new Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo and told Schneider that he found the World Cup winner and former Juve (and New York City FC) midfielder “quite impressive.” And McKennie didn’t feel like he’d be moving to Turin to sit on the bench. Weston McKennie Early Years in Career Football: When Kenny’s family returned to Texas, he tried juggling soccer with American football to no avail. USA’s Weston McKennie has made three appearances for Juventus so far. Schalke 04 is a big club. While Juve was cruising to a ninth consecutive Serie A championship, Schalke was battered following the May restart. Deshaun Watson faces 16 civil lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and assault over the last year, with one incident as recent as March 2021. Weston James Earl McKennie (born August 28, 1998) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Italian club Juventus, on loan from Schalke 04, and the United States national team. Schalke has won domestic and European trophies and according to Deloitte’s annual Football Money League report, it’s the 15th wealthiest team on the planet with 2018-19 revenue exceeding $380 million. Moreover, it’s obsessed with winning the Champions League. Schneider said that he expects Juventus to keep McKennie beyond this season, but that if something unanticipated occurred and he was returned to Gelsenkirchen, the American would be received with open arms. Not a speedboat or a kayak, but something like a commercial fishing trawler, a clipper ship or Roman Abramovich’s latest superyacht. He posed for photos and took a walk on the Allianz Stadium field, busting through a barrier with each step or shutter click. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. “When we are on the path to make a decision like this, it’s always about the development of the player and the development of the club. I know that they see a long-term investment in him and that Juventus, they don’t want to keep him just for one year. The Big Clubs are now welcoming Americans aboard. But he has a great spirit and is hardworking and we are quite optimistic that he will play a good season, and that he can make an impact on our game.”. “He’s still young. But Pulisic’s Big Club pedigree wasn’t in doubt by the time he was sold early last year. The agreement was complex, as it included a one-year loan and terms that gave Juventus the option, or even the obligation, to purchase McKennie’s rights outright. He scored five goals in 20 appearances for Schalke’s U-19 team last season and now has been moved up to the reserve side that plays in Germany’s fourth tier. And that’s where stronger American ties can be found. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. McKennie, who is the first American to play for the ‘Old Lady’, is a product of former U.S. Soccer Development Academy side FC Dallas. Another American, Evan Rotundo, signed with the club this summer and will start with the U-17s. Juventus FC won 2-0 over AS Roma. Then came the call. Weston McKennie’s player radar from this season. Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images The game is changing. "Having the opportunity to wear this shirt, representing my country and bringing young Americans closer to football makes me proud.”, He added, “There was no need to convince me to come to Juventus, because being here is a dream that has become a reality.”. JUVENTUS have completed the permanent signing of midfielder Weston McKennie for an initial £16million. Alexander Povetkin Vs. Dillian Whyte II: Odds, Records, Prediction, Rashard Higgins Looking To ‘Run It Back’ With Cleveland Browns, Rashard Higgins On Returning To The Cleveland Browns: ‘A No-Brainer’, Baseball’s Most Valuable Teams: New York Yankees On Top At $5.25 Billion, San Francisco 49ers Will Listen To Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Offers, 5 Takeaways From The San Francisco 49ers’ Blockbuster NFL Draft Trade With The Miami Dolphins. Juventus’ American midfielder Weston McKennie celebrates after scoring during a Serie A match against Bologna last week in Turin. "But we would’ve also found an agreement with a German club if that’s where he wanted to go.”. Behind Taitague is striker Matthew Hoppe, a 19-year-old from Orange County, Calif., who chose Schalke over playing college soccer at San Diego State. Weston McKennie has joined Juventus on a season-long loan from Schalke and will become the first American to play for the Italian champions, the Serie A club announced on Saturday.... more » 10.06.2020 13:30 Italian soccer giant Juventus have exercised the option to make USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie’s move from German side Schalke 04 permanent. In recent years, both Michael Bradley (from Chievo Verona to AS Roma) and Clint Dempsey (from Fulham to Tottenham Hotspur) moved from teams happy to avoid relegation to teams targeting the Champions League. “We would be more than happy to have him back here. It was mid-August, and Juve’s first point of contact was Michael Reschke, the Schalke technical director who previously had dealt with the Italian club while working for Bayern Munich. Schneider wouldn’t confirm the identity of McKennie’s other suitors, but Sports Illustrated understands that Southampton initially was the most interested team beyond German borders. Juventus have completed the permanent signing of Weston McKennie from Schalke for a further initial fee of €18.5million. football match between Juventus FC and AS Roma. The loan appears to spread out the payments in a manner more palatable to Juventus, but likely means more money for Schalke in the long run. “This club is used to playing European football and the size of the club, the number of employees, the wages we pay to players—everything needs European football. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. We’re now used to seeing American players move to Europe and move within Europe. I am a football (soccer) journalist passionate about everything related to the beautiful game, from live matches to football business and stadiums. Schneider and Schalke clearly wish conditions were different. It ranked among the world’s top 10 in average attendance. Juve is a giant of the global game, a tradition-rich club that’s been home to a litany of renowned players and which now features the sport’s greatest attention magnet, Cristiano Ronaldo. The home page of the US Football Federation yesterday announced midfielder Weston McKennie was voted Men’s Player of the Year 2020 for excellence in the past year. “The fact that Juventus have moved the permanent transfer deal for McKennie forward gives us more planning security with a view to next season,” said Schalke 04 director of finance Christina Rühö-Hamers in a statement on their official website. My focus is on Serie A, with a keen eye for European, Southern American and international competitions. Nearly every NFL team was in attendance as Zach Wilson showed off his arm strength, throwing multiple off-balance passes that went 50 yards. A versatile player, McKennie is capable of playing in a multitude of positions in midfield—mainly as a box-to-box or as a deep-lying defensive midfielder. USA midfielder Weston McKennie made his Bundesliga debut for Schalke in May 2017 at the age of 18. This is how Weston McKennie, a 22-year-old midfielder with three Bundesliga seasons already under his belt, wound up becoming the first American to sign with mighty Juventus. You’ll have to prepare for the storm and make some accommodations, and you’ll probably take on some water. One could make a case that a move to Hertha might represent a small step up considering Schalke’s current financial situation, but the capital club is hardly a European heavyweight. It is expected to extend its current three-decade run in Germany’s top tier and to that end, it signed free-agent striker Vedad Ibišević from Hertha. The inside details of how McKennie broke a barrier for U.S. players at one of world soccer's giants—and the young American talent lined up at Schalke after his departure. An incredibly versatile player capable of playing across the entire midfield, McKennie will likely be an important cog in whatever team he plays. After three sudden death tiebreaker holes, Sergio Garcia knocked out Lee Westwood with a walk-off ace to advance in the WGC Match Play Championship. As for the rest of the current transfer window, there’s still almost a month remaining. With McKennie’s interest obvious, negotiations began. But the organization does have faith in them. He’s a smart guy. I am the Senior. Chairman Clemens Tönnies resigned at the end of June. But sometimes those conditions separate the big clubs from the Big Clubs, and in the end McKennie’s transfer was the best move for the long term. Schneider and his staff calculated that the club had to sell at least one high-value player, “to close the delta when you think about our budget”—the sort of player you wouldn’t part with during sunnier times. He’s an American international. He still has three years on his contract. They were later in their careers, however. On January 20 he also won the first trophy of his professional career, when Juventus defeated SSC Napoli 2-0 in the Italian Super Cup final. Eventually, he became focused on soccer and joined the vaunted FC Dallas Academy in 2009. There are Americans aged 22 or younger at RB Leipzig, a Champions League semifinalist, and former winners Ajax and Chelsea. He’s an attacking midfielder from San Diego. If anything, Juventus has been shedding some midfield age and salary this offseason, sending 30-year-old midfielder Miralem Pjanić to Barcelona (with Arthur Melo coming the other way) and 33-year-old Blaise Matuidi to MLS expansion team Inter Miami. ‘Are you ready for this step?’ If he says ‘Yes,’ and we find an agreement with the club which also helps our club, money-wise, then I think it’s time to let the player go,” Schneider said. “I would say we have the best academy in Germany. I think this is something normal,” Schneider said. He’s still a young kid. All Rights Reserved. There’s a U.S. connection there—Ibišević went to high school and college in St. Louis. This is part of our philosophy. To be honest, it was O.K.,” Schneider acknowledged. It took one unexpected phone call to Germany last month to set significant change in motion. The US international spent four years in Germany and made 91 appearances for Schalke 04, but the Bundesliga club - currently sitting in the last position of the table - found itself in an uncertain financial situation after the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, improbably, there’s a U.S. international at Juventus. Like Fulham, Schalke doesn’t necessarily seek out U.S. players. You may opt-out by. Other clubs reportedly floated to the surface, including AS Monaco and Liverpool. But any moves will be modest, as Schalke seeks to promote from within. Taitague has had injury issues, but he’s become healthier and stronger and should be ready for Bundesliga minutes, Schneider said. And as far as we can find a reasonable solution for the club money-wise, then it’s just fair and necessary to not stand in the players way to move.”. “Then we have to bring the next one in and give this player a chance to develop like Weston did. TURIN – Weston McKennie opened his first news conference as a Juventus player on Monday with a bit of cultural flair, speaking in Italian. These are the words American football player @[200226303952377:274:Weston McKennie] shared with us to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth. The 22-year-old American has spent the season on loan at the Old Lady from Schalke. “When we extended Weston’s contract just one year ago, we didn’t expect him leaving in the summer of 2020,” Schneider explained.