Weston McKennie says he wants to spend the rest of his career at Juventus, describing his long-term future in Turin as “a dream come true” before the club’s pre-season meeting with Inter.
The United States midfielder is expected to start against the Italian champions, and reflected on reaching six years with Juventus as he prepares to begin what he considers his seventh season at the club.
“Staying so long at a club, and especially a club like Juventus, isn’t easy,” McKennie told Tuttosport, in comments reported by calciomercato.com.
“Being here for six years already and starting, I think, my seventh season is a dream come true, so I hope I can carry on.”
McKennie said advice from former Juventus midfielder and manager Andrea Pirlo had influenced his understanding of what it takes to remain at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“He told me something that stuck in my mind: any player can be lucky enough to reach a club like this and stay a year or two, but only the professionals, the ones who can perform day after day, manage to stay at such a club for five, six or seven years.”
The 26-year-old also revealed that his childhood football idol was Francesco Totti, despite the former Roma captain being one of Juventus’ most famous rivals.
“Even if some people won’t like hearing me say it, my idol was Francesco Totti, above all for his loyalty,” he said, “but I’d also cite the example of Del Piero, of course.”
McKennie does not believe Juventus should accept Inter as favourites for the Scudetto, despite Inter having won the title last season.
“Is Inter still favourite for the Scudetto? Is that what the papers say?” he said. “Any team in Italy can win it. Inter obviously have a strong side and won it last year, so if people say that, I suppose that’s what they think, but our job is to focus on our own game and try to change the perception we have of ourselves.”
He also offered strong praise for Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, calling him his favourite coach of his career and highlighting the relationship he has with his players.
“He’s probably my favourite coach out of all those I’ve had in my career,” McKennie said. “In America we’d call him a ‘player’s coach’, one who knows how to tell a player off when needed, but who can also joke to lighten the mood. I was very, very happy when he decided to stay and the club confirmed him. It’s one of the important reasons I wanted to remain here.”
Juventus will not play in the Champions League this season, with their qualification for the Europa League leaving McKennie determined to target victory in that competition.
“We qualified for the Europa League, so I think our objective has to be to try to win it, because that’s the situation we’re in,” he said.
McKennie also addressed the uncertainty surrounding Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, saying he had not contacted the Serbia international since returning to pre-season training.
“I haven’t written to him since I got back, we’ve been super busy. When he’s sorted out his situation, I’ll message to congratulate him on whatever he’s decided and wish him luck.”
