Spaghetti Weston: McKennie at Juventus

I'm still thinking my latest theory is likely - Juve told the world Wes was gone to encourage Wes to take a move that paid Juve some cash (rather than do the Wes thing and figure "I can win a spot" and collect his salary for the next 6 - 12 months and leave on a free.) We'll see if it pays off for Juve. I doubt Wes' folks are that simple.

The "Wes got fired" narrative doesn't explain one thing - Juve are still insisting on decent money for Wes. If they really just want him out, they'll loan him if they can't sell him to get out from under the salary. We shall see.

 

Why would Juve loan a player with 1 year left on his contract? To not pay 3.2m in salary? They would do better to keep him on ice incase of injuries or suspensions and early Coppa match rotation.

I mean, that would be a sweet deal for Wes. Gets to play and still play the free agency market.

Juve need around 9m in transfer value to not take a loss on the overall transfer. I think he is sold for 10m by the end of the window.

 

Because the say they don’t want him. My point is if he is *really* “fired” ie. they don’t want him, they will loan him to save the money. But as you note, they don’t really want to “fire” him. They want to push him to move for $. But Wes is not really incentivized to move to make Juve money. He will make himself more in Jan/Jun if he doesn’t get a good offer.

 

I see what you're saying, just don't think there is any chance he gets loaned out without extending his deal. Why would Juve loan a player that will leave for free at the end of the year? Wes isn't on huge money gross salary wise.

If Juve is going to gamble by telling teams that players aren't part of their plans they should be willing to show strength by eating salary if they don't get what they are asking. Especially for other players thinking of running their contracts down.

 

I think you're right. I think the "he's out!" was a bit of bluster to force Wes' hand. My guess (and it's a complete guess) is that they asked Wes to extend, he (or his folks) wanted too much $ so they said, "well, then we're going to sell you cause you're not in our plans" and he said (in typical Wes fashion) "I think I win a spot cause I'm Wes" and they said "read our press release - you're going!" But, as you point out, if they don't get the $ they want, he's actually more valuable to them than saving his salary. So, Juve is fronting here quite a bit. If they were serious, they'd loan him and find a less-salaried player to sit on the bench.

 

Here is some more bluster. Goal.com reporting he is out and training alone, not part of the friendly game rosters either. Put a fork in Wes at Juve, it seems like.

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/we...orentina-transfer-serie-a/blta7a5232aef012541

 

They are obviously trying to force him to take a deal, question will (may) be - what do they do if he doesn't. That will be the tell on how "done" he really is.

 

After reading what they did to him last year I don't think this will "force" him to do anything. I'd suggest that at times in my life a stunt like this would make me dig in and show them how stupid they are. If he gets something he agrees with he'll go and not he make them pay him and play him or pay him for nothing.

 

The way Motta talks you'd never guess he's only been managing for three seasons, got summarily fired once, and has never won anything as a manager.

 

I for one I’m not celebrating if Wes departs. He really grew into his own at Juve improved a lot of doubters wrong. I’m pretty sure wherever he lands he will play an integral role.

 

Never liked him as a player. Even less so as a coach. Mottas arrogance makes the great sacchi blush!!!

 

Well, Wes is under contract and there's nothing Juve can do about it, so we can start taking bets on who actually ends up out at Juve first - Wes or Motta

I know which one of those two is more useful.

 

I think Wes would crush it at Dortmund (previous history with rivals Schalke be damned). There were a few BvB rumors over the past year, not that I necessarily give any real credence to them. But Wes back in the Bundesliga would be alright with me

 

Looks like Juventus has abandoned the idea of getting transfer fees for players like Chiesa and McKennie.

 

Motta’s showing his lack of market prowess as much as his coaching ability. Just tanking market values left and right

 

The ones mentioned in that tweet that make it past the transfer deadline will be getting paychecks from Juventus long after Motta’s stop.

 

I understand a new manager wanting to bring in some of his guys, but if your first act is to immediately axe half the team, maybe this wasn’t the job for you.

 

Didn’t Juventus make the same blustering statements last summer over and over and then play him 38 times during the season?

 

yes but that is irrelevant since they now have a new coach calling the shots.

 

This is a continuation of Juve's efforts to reign in spending. It's not they they think all of those players are "useless" (well... maybe Arthur Melo), it's that they're all over-paid.

I secretly think Wes would be at least training with the first team and playing friendlies if he had taken the renewal at €2m net. I think they'd still be trying to move him because Motta doesn't rate him, I just think he wouldn't be "frozen out" if he were on a smaller salary.

But I also very publicly think that Wes is doing the right thing by asking for more after his last season proved that he's a capable contributor to the club.