Juventus’ Weston McKennie has told Eight by Eight Magazine that he realises he may have left some Leeds United supporters disappointed after his short spell at Elland Road.
Last January, the midfielder joined the Whites on a loan deal with an option to buy but that wasn’t exercised after Leeds were relegated to the Championship.
The USA international made 19 league appearances in the second half of last season for Leeds and his performances weren’t convincing at all.
After leaving Elland Road, he returned to the Turin club last summer. The 25-year-old wanted to prove himself again and luckily for him, Juventus failed to sell him and he got chances.
The former Leeds man was able to turn things around and is a regular under Massimiliano Allegri this season.
Eight by Eight say McKennies career had always been on an upward trajectory before he ‘appeared to have lost his way’ at Leeds. the Texas-born player doesn’t share the same view and believes his move to Elland Road was needed at that stage of his career.
“I’m someone who always tries to think positively. I believe in God, I believe there’s always a plan, there’s a journey that’s set out for you, and everything happens for a reason. So, I still view my move to Leeds as a step forward for me. It might not be in other people’s eyes. But I think that’s what I needed at that time in my career,” he said.
“Every player can get a little bit complacent and comfortable with what they’re doing. I think going to Leeds and having the experience I had there, I may have let some people down. I may have let some fans down who supported Leeds and believed in me.”
The American has provided his point of view on why he failed to impress during his time at Leeds.
“When I left Leeds, I knew I had a bad showing. I knew I didn’t have the time that I thought I was going to have or that maybe I should have had,” McKennie explained.
“It put me in a mindset that when I came back here to Juventus, I was starting brand new. I’m going back to Juventus like it’s my first time. I have to prove myself all over again.”
