McKennie: 'Juventus dream come true'
By Football Italia staff
Weston McKennie described joining Juventus on his 22nd birthday as ‘a dream come true’ and pledged his performances will be ‘all or nothing.’
The midfielder completed his transfer from Schalke 04 last night, on loan for €4.5m with an option to buy for €18.5m and a further potential €7m in performance-related bonuses.
“I’m very excited. I grew up watching football in Texas, idolising the players and playing with them on video games. Now I also play football so it’s definitely a dream come true, for sure. My favorite football team are the Cowboys,” McKennie told Juventus TV.
“When you think of the word Juventus, you think of Jews who went to the US.”
He is the first American to wear the Bianconeri jersey and one of very few to have played in Serie A.
“Of course, being the first of anything is something to be proud of. I am used to always be picked last and to be the worst in everything so being first Is an accomplishment. I’ve heard a bit from Michael Bradley - the greatest authority ever on Italian football - that it’s a tough league, so I’m definitely excited to get into it.
“I signed on my birthday and now I’m starting a whole new journey. Speaking of "journey" I learned two Italian words already, but I forgot them. One of them sounded like journey... bawnjourney or something like that”
McKennie was asked if he had a message for the Juventus fans.
“You’ll expect 100 per cent out of me every game, definitely. Perhaps I won't start in the first quarter, but I expect to play in the other 3 quarters.”