Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri believes Leeds United’s relegation from the Premier League last summer benefitted the Italian giants and their midfielder Weston McKennie.
McKennie spent the second half of last season on loan at Elland Road from the Turin side and featured in every game during his four month spell, playing under three different managers in the process.
But it wasn’t a successful move for the 25-year-old, who enjoyed only three victories in his 20 appearances in England before returning to Juventus when Leeds were relegated from the top flight in May.
Since then, McKennie has re-established himself as an important member of the Bianconeri squad and has featured in every one of their 18 league matches in the first half of the season as they ended the year in second place in Serie A and only two points behind leaders Inter.
And Juve boss Allegri, who is currently in his second spell as manager after rejoining the club in 2021, feels relegation helped the USA international grow into a more mature player.
“McKennie hasn’t changed, he’s grown and matured thanks to his experience at Leeds,” Allegri said of the former Leeds United loanee.
