Arriving at Juventus from Lille this summer, Timothy Weah (24) was meant to bring in more competition on the flanks following Juan Cuadrado’s departure to Inter Milan. While excitement surrounded his arrival, the American slowly lost ground as the season progressed.
As Juventus’ sole summer signing (excluding activated buy options), Timothy Weah was intended to bolster the club’s right flank. At 23, following a promising stint at Lille, the Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate and son of George Weah, the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner, made the leap to a major club. Versatile, he had played as a center-forward, winger on both sides, and full-back on both sides during his time up north. Thus, he arrived in Piedmont with the reputation of a versatile player. While his father wore the AC Milan jersey from 1995 to 2000, Timothy Weah was joining another Italian giant with lofty ambitions. “The time my father spent in Milan is part of my family’s history; it was a very important period. Now, his son also has the chance to play in Serie A, to play for one of the most important clubs. It’s wonderful. And it’s also one of his favorite teams; he’s a big Juventus fan. That made my choice easier,” he explained upon arrival.
Confident in his versatility, Timothy Weah believed that the array of options he brought would benefit both himself and the team: “I’m a very explosive player who likes to run, cross, and provide assists. I think I will be at my best with my teammates. I hope to help them score many goals. I’m a hard worker and will work for the team without holding back. I have a preferred role, which is as a wing-back. I think I will play there; it’s a new role for me, but I really like it. I’ve played as a forward and on the wing; I think it will help me a lot. I’m ready to play wherever the coach places me.” And his debut was promising. Positioned on the right in Massimiliano Allegri’s 3-5-2, he immediately stood out in preseason with a goal and the title of best player in the match against Real Madrid (3-1). He savored his rapid adaptation after the game: “I’m happy; it was a magnificent victory. It was a tough match, but it’s wonderful to play these games. We played well, fought, and worked hard to achieve this result. We wanted to win, and we did; we’re happy. Weston’s assist and the MVP award? I’m very happy.”
Andrea Cambiaso Takes Over
His teammate Wojciech Szczesny didn’t hesitate to praise his performance: “Weah? He has an important engine; he moves a lot and has a lot of energy. I’m happy for him.” Coach Massimiliano Allegri was also enthusiastic: “Weah was a bit tired, but he’s a boy with good qualities who will be very useful to the team.” While the beginnings were encouraging for the American, they did not translate into long-term success. Despite being fielded 26 times for just one goal in the Coppa Italia and an assist against AC Milan last October, Timothy Weah lacks efficiency and cutting edge with the Italian club. Although he plays whenever fit (he suffered an injury that caused him to miss 5 matches and slowed him down from mid-October to mid-November), his playing time remains relatively low, with an average of minutes played of less than 38. This has even declined significantly over the last five matches (15.8 minutes played during this period). In his right flank, Andrea Cambiaso (24) is gaining the upper hand. Far more effective and valuable in offensive participation (3 goals and 4 assists in 28 appearances), he has managed to make a greater impact during his playing time.
While it’s true that the Italian club has struggled to get the best out of its wing-backs, as evidenced by the challenging performances of Filip Kostic and Samuel Iling-Junior, Timothy Weah’s positioning raises questions. Deployed as a right wing-back, a position he already occupied at Lille, he finds it more difficult to showcase his offensive qualities. Tasked with more defensive duties, he has yet to display his best form with the transalpine club. This role differs from his role with the United States national team, where he operates as a right winger in a 4-3-3 alongside Yunus Musah and Joe Scally to cover his flanks. More liberated, he once again put in a solid performance last Sunday in the 2-0 victory against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final. Good news for Timothy Weah, who was able to regain some confidence before the end of the season with Juventus, where he will need to turn the tide. Under contract until June 2028 with Juventus, Timothy Weah still has time to redeem himself, but his stock is slowly diminishing…
Leave a Reply