There will be no shortage of key US men’s national team players making a move in this summer’s transfer window. Indeed, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams could all have new clubs by the time next season starts.
Timothy Weah already has a new club, completing a transfer to Juventus last week.
Juve paid €12m to sign Weah from Lille where the American was a bright yet inconsistent performer. The Old Lady are rebuilding their squad this summer and Weah is seen as an important part of that reconstruction job. But while the 23-year-old is most commonly a winger for the USMNT, he is expected to operate as a wing back for his new team.
Weah was a fullback in his final half-season at Lille, giving the Ligue 1 outfit an attacking outlet with his speed and direct running. The US international has been signed by Juventus to operate in a similar role, albeit with more of a defensive safety net behind him in the shape of a back three. Weah will be a player with a clear job at Allianz Stadium.
By making the move to Turin, though, Weah has tied himself to Max Allegri. The 55-year-old is under extreme pressure with the chorus growing ever-louder for Juventus to change manager following a difficult 2022/23 season. The club insists Allegri’s job is safe, but a poor start to the 2023/24 campaign will surely make his position untenable.
Allegri favours a back three and fullbacks as a defensive structure, but there’s no guarantee a replacement appointment would stick with the same system. A managerial change could be bad news for Weah, who would likely have to prove himself in a different position.
Juan Cuadrado’s departure at the end of last season means Weah will probably play on the right wing, although the American is similarly capable on the left. With Juventus not always particularly fluid in the way they build-up through the middle of the pitch, they frequently look to the wide channels for a funnel into the attack. This is why the signing of Weah is so important.
Amid a summer of change, Juventus are currently a work-in-progress. Angel di Maria is another veteran figure who exited Allianz Stadium at the end of last season, returning to former club Benfica. There are also questions over Dusan Vlahovic’s future at Juve with the Serbian striker struggling to settle last term.
Many doubt Allegri has the tactical nouse to impose a new identity on Juventus as a team on the pitch, but Cristiano Giuntoli could mould a new off-the-field strategy. Giuntoli is set to become Juve’s new sporting director after helping to lead Napoli to Scudetto glory and there are suggestions he is already moulding his new club’s transfer strategy, with Weah a part of it.
The sight of Weah at wing back for one of the biggest clubs in European soccer might prompt Gregg Berhalter to reconsider the 23-year-old’s best position for the USMNT. Until now, Weah has been used on the right wing to good effect. He was one of the USA’s best players at the 2022 World Cup and was also effective at the CONCACAF Nations League finals earlier this summer.
Berhalter hasn’t shown much willingness to shift to a system with wing backs, instead favouring a 4-3-3 shape over the last two years, but the success of Weah as a Juventus player in this position could promote a rethink. After all, Berhalter has three years to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. It might be worthwhile exploring some new ideas.
“I’m sure that an experience in Italy and at Juventus, who we’ve come to know better and better in recent years thanks to McKennie, would be useful for Timothy,” said Berhalter “I think that facing the winning mentality of Juventus would allow him to make a further leap forward. Flexibility is one of his strengths, as is the ease of getting to the cross. Weah is a venomous winger.”
Several USMNT players find themselves at a crossroads this summer and Weah has already chosen a way forward. Juventus are a mess, and have been for a few seasons now, but the 23-year-old could help them address at least one problem. At the very least, Weah has reason to believe his latest transfer will push his own game to an even higher level.
