Weston McKennie At Striker? Juventus Boss Says USA Star Would Be 'Perfect' No. 9

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has heaped praise on USMNT star Weston McKennie, claiming the midfielder has all the attributes to be a "perfect central striker" following the Bianconeri's emphatic 3-0 victory over Napoli. Spalletti also highlighted a significant limitation in the game of goalscorer Jonathan David, comparing him unfavourably to Napoli forward Rasmus Hojlund despite the Canadian's crucial strike.

Spalletti was full of admiration for McKennie’s performance during Sunday’s high-stakes clash at the Allianz Stadium. The American midfielder, who has become a utility man under the Italian coach, was instrumental in a win that kept Juventus firmly in the Serie A title hunt. Speaking to Sky Sport, Spalletti suggested that McKennie’s skillset is so complete that he could easily operate as a traditional number nine.

"McKennie is a perfect central striker, one of the strongest as a centre-forward," Spalletti said. "He fights, he’s strong in the air, and he’s got an impressive leap. He plays to get results because he makes decisions. He would be a perfect striker."

While McKennie received glowing praise for his hypothetical striker qualities, actual striker David faced a more mixed review. The Canadian international opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a sharp finish, a moment Spalletti described as a "proper striker" goal.

"David is a strong player, and tonight he showed that he can hold his own in a duel in the box, where there’s no space, so it has to be taken away from the opponent," Spalletti noted. "If you put all your strength into those moments, it’s fine, otherwise you don’t get there."

However, speaking to DAZN, the Juventus boss was blunt about what David cannot do. He pinpointed the forward's