Weston McKennie has caused a stir several times with his remarks about Italian food, but the American midfielder now seems to have mended his ways. At the urging of Juventus coach Igor Tudor, he has adjusted his diet.
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Weston McKennie has drawn attention more than once for his comments about Italian food, but the American midfielder now appears to have cleaned up his habits.
At the urging of Juventus coach Igor Tudor, he has adjusted his diet and daily routine, a change that teammates and staff say is already noticeable on the training ground as Juventus navigate a demanding Serie A campaign.
Tudor took over from Thiago Motta in March and told McKennie last summer to slim down if he wanted to keep a meaningful role at Juventus. The message was direct but constructive. McKennie told TNT Sports that Tudor reminded him he is 27 and that recovery would not be as quick as before, so dropping a few kilos was the way to stay involved with the team. Framed that way, it was not only about weight but about professionalism and longevity. It was a challenge, and McKennie chose to meet it.
The change started with routine. McKennie cut out most of the idle snacking that had been part of his day, replacing convenience foods with planned meals prepared around training times. He now targets a steadier balance of lean protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber, and he times those meals to fuel sessions and speed up post-training recovery. If he still snacks, it tends to be fruit, yogurt, or a handful of nuts rather than sweets. He also increased his water intake and reduced late-night eating to help sleep quality, which is often the invisible pillar of a footballer’s performance.
In the gym, McKennie has focused on building strength without compromising agility. That has meant more unilateral work for hips and ankles, core stability drills to support his change of direction, and shorter, sharper running blocks on the pitch. He is doing more high intensity intervals and repeated sprints to mirror the demands of his role, along with steady aerobic work that helps him arrive at matchday fresher. The cumulative effect has been subtle rather than dramatic. Fewer heavy legs at the end of a session, a quicker first step into the press, and a touch more composure in possession when the game speeds up.
The results are showing. After a difficult start he has now made seven appearances and has reestablished himself as a trusted option for Tudor in different game states. That versatility has always been part of McKennie’s appeal. He can play as a box to box midfielder, tuck wide to protect a full back, or push higher to harry the opposition build up. With better conditioning, those role switches within a match become easier to sustain for ninety minutes. It is no coincidence that he has spoken about feeling lighter and more confident. He even joked that this was the first summer he felt comfortable taking his shirt off by the pool, a small but telling detail about how he views his own body and fitness.
Context matters because McKennie’s relationship with Italian cuisine had become a running joke. He has played for Juve since 2020 but struggled to get used to a food culture that many praise. In a podcast in June, the Texan said there is no variety and that it is always pasta, pizza, fish or steak. He added that the food is great, but in America a hamburger tastes different at every place, while pasta pesto tastes the same everywhere in Italian restaurants. The comments drew laughs and some frustration. Former goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano joked that McKennie should no longer be allowed into Italy. Old clips resurfaced of the American floating ideas like adding cookies or brownies to pasta or putting salad dressing on pizza. Even a proper Italian espresso did not win him over, a revelation that left Giorgio Chiellini shaking his head.
All of that created a caricature that threatened to overshadow the player. The course correction has softened that narrative. What supporters want most is commitment, and visible effort carries weight. Teammates see him staying out for extra work, staff notice the consistency in his routines, and fans see a player who looks sharper in duels and more persistent in the press. Diet is not a magic trick, but it is one of the few levers a professional can control every day. When that lever moves in the right direction, it often unlocks everything else.
The timing of this reset could be important. Juventus visit Como for a Serie A fixture on Sunday, 19 October 2025, with kickoff at 12:30. Matches like this in Serie A can hinge on midfield intensity and second balls, areas where McKennie’s energy and range are most valuable. Tudor has leaned on players who carry out instructions with discipline, and a fitter McKennie fits that profile. Whether he starts or comes on to close out the final half hour, the expectation is that he will cover ground, connect lines, and set the pressing tone from his first sprint.
None of this means McKennie must love every dish on an Italian menu. It does mean he has recognized the tradeoffs of elite football. If the price of feeling quicker on minute 85 is skipping a late burger and reaching for water instead of soda, that is a price he now seems willing to pay. The jokes may never disappear completely, but they are quieter when the performances are loud enough. Juventus will take that balance every time.
Updated: 11:54, 17 Oct 2025
