Leeds Utd learn brutal Juventus stance on permanent Weston McKennie transfer after Allegri reflection
A report in Italy has hinted at how Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri feels about their decision to let go of Weston McKennie to Leeds United in January.
McKennie signed for Leeds on loan with an option to buy on January 30. He became the latest American player to sign up for compatriot Jesse Marsch, although the head coach would go on to lose his job just a week later.
Still, McKennie has retained his place under Marsch’s successor, Javi Gracia. So far, the 24-year-old has played six times for his new club: once under Marsch, three times under caretaker manager Michael Skubala, and twice under Gracia.
Should McKennie impress at Leeds, they will have the chance to buy him for a fee of around €34.5million (£30.6m). In fact, the West Yorkshire side could have an obligation to buy him if he makes a certain number of appearances and they secure Premier League safety.
If the permanent transfer doesn’t happen for either reason, though, he will be back under contract with Juventus until 2025.
It is up to McKennie over the next few months to prove his worth at Leeds. Should he do well enough, they may want to keep him on a permanent basis.
And now, they have learned how Juventus would feel about bidding farewell to the former Schalke star for good.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Juventus boss Allegri “does not miss” McKennie, despite using him 21 times this season before he left for Leeds. In fact, the Serie A side hope the Whites stay up so that the arrangement for McKennie becomes permanent.
After all, they have evolved their own midfield by giving more space to youngsters like Fabio Miretti and Nicolo Fagioli.
Chances of Weston McKennie staying at Leeds United look high
Hence, McKennie’s Juventus career may well have ended after 96 appearances and 13 goals. In general, he struggled for consistency in Turin, so will be hoping to make himself more useful for Leeds.
Allegri’s stance on McKennie’s future may seem quite brutal just over a month after his move. Previously, Allegri accounted for more than half of the midfielder’s Juventus appearances. However, the Old Lady have been in good enough form since the American’s departure.
Their reluctance to reintegrate him ahead of next season may be a boost for Leeds. It would be one less obstacle standing in their way of keeping McKennie over a longer duration.
Besides, even if Juventus had any regrets regarding McKennie, it wouldn’t matter if he met the conditions needed to turn his Leeds loan permanent. Hence, Gracia’s side should be focusing on avoiding relegation first and foremost, before thinking about their off-field business.
Currently, they are above the relegation zone by one point. However, there is a long way to go in the season still.
McKennie and his colleagues will have to pull together to ensure Leeds remain outside the bottom three. If that happens and he keeps playing at the rate he has been, he will be able to look ahead to a longer future at Elland Road.
