12 July 2022
Dallas, Texas will play host to one of Juventus' summer friendly matches (here the complete US Tour schedule) and offers a homecoming of sorts to Weston McKennie. The midfielder was born in Little Elm, half an hour’s drive north of Dallas, and before becoming the first American player to wear the Juventus shirt, Wes played for FC Dallas from 2009 to 2016. He arrived at the Bianconeri in season 2020/21, below are the first shots after his unveiling as a Juve player.
The Texan has totalled 75 appearances and 175 and 10 goals in his two seasons so far in black and white, and has collected two winner medals, the Italian Cup and the Italian Super Cup in season 2020/21. Of his 10 goals, the one that arrived in the Champions League away at Barcelona produced one the most iconic images of his first two years in Turin.
Juve’s ties with the world of soccer doesn't stop at Weston. The lure of North America has swayed some Bianconeri to set off on a new adventure across the Atlantic. Giorgio Chiellini is the most recent to cross the ocean. After the emotional farewell at the Allianz Stadium on May 16, he swapped his Juventus shirt for that of Los Angeles FC. Giorgio has followed in the footsteps of another cornerstone of Juventus' most recent successes, Andrea Pirlo, who chose the opposite coast when he made 62 appearances with New York City FC.
It was in Florida, in Miami, that the careers of Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain continued after leaving Juve. The two are now teammates at Inter Miami FC, having left a lasting legacy in Bianconeri history - 149 appearances and 66 goals in black and white for El Pipita, 133 appearances and 6 goals for Blaise. And all the titles won, of course.
The influence of Juventus has also carried over the border into Canada. Inbound Julia Grosso, who arrived midway through last season to add her contribution to Juventus Women’s record-breaking campaign. The Canada international will stay on in Turin having signed a contract extension until 2024. Outbound in 2015, meanwhile, was Sebastian Giovinco, who became the star of Toronto FC for four seasons, scoring 83 goals in 142 matches, and winning an MLS Cup, three Canadian championships, and MLS MVP and Golden Boot awards. A trailblazer in Canada was Roberto Bettega, who played for Toronto Blizzard for two seasons from 1983 to 1984, both times reaching the Soccer Bowl. Even before Bettega, however, there was Francesco Morini, seven-time title winner with Juve, who also turned out for the Blizzard, but in 1980.
