USA coach Gregg Berhalter expected Weston McKennie to join a Premier League club amid interest from Southampton and Aston Villa. But, speaking to the Guardian, he admitted that Juventus was an opportunity too good to miss.
There is a certain irony in the fact that, while a transitional Juve side look completely out of sorts under rookie boss Andrea Pirlo, Southampton and Aston Villa have confounded the critics during a remarkable start to the season.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints have won five of their last six matches and, on Friday, briefly sat top of the English football pyramid for the first time since 1988.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, battered Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates; a month after putting seven past champions Liverpool.
But, even if he could turn back the clock, McKennie would be unlikely to choose a move to England over Juventus.
As Berhalter himself said, the chance to share a dressing room with some of the finest footballers of the 21st century doesn’t come around too often.
“When a coach like Pirlo really wants you and thinks you can make an impact in his team, it’s very difficult to say no to that,” said Berhalter. “Juventus is a top club in the world.”
McKennie shot to fame at Schalke thanks to his endless energy reserves and his willingness to play in a multitude of positions; two attributes that have Berhalter drawing comparisons with Liverpool’s all-action utility man Gini Wijnaldum.
“You’re looking at him and thinking, ‘This guy could easily have been an NFL athlete,’” said the USMNT boss. “He’s an unbelievable athlete.
“Weston has so much energy. Training is never done for him. He’s always the last one off the training field.”
According to Sky, Southampton held talks over an £20 million deal while McKennie was also interested in joining Aston Villa back in August (Birmingham Mail).
But once Juventus entered the race, there was only going to be one winner.
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