Thuram: ‘Not’ Pogba’s heir at Juventus, Weah excited to return home

Juventus coach claims new boy Thuram is ‘not’ Pogba’s successor, Weah ‘thrilled’ to return to Europe

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has stated that new signing Lilian Thuram is not a direct successor to Paul Pogba, while Weston McKennie will not be leaving the club in January. France international Thuram joined the Serie A giants in the summer from Borussia Monchengladbach, but Allegri is keen to downplay comparisons to his compatriot.

Allegri: Thuram not Pogba’s heir

"Thuram is a good player, but he is not Pogba," Allegri said at a press conference. "Pogba is a unique player, and we do not have anyone like him in our squad. Thuram is a different type of player, and he will have to find his own way to contribute to the team."

McKennie staying put

Allegri also confirmed that McKennie will not be leaving Juventus in January amid links to Tottenham and Aston Villa. "McKennie is an important player for us, and we are not looking to sell him," Allegri said. "He is a young player with a lot of potential, and we believe he can become a key player for us in the future."

Weah thrilled to return home

Meanwhile, Juventus forward Timothy Weah has expressed his delight at returning to Europe after a loan spell at Lille. The United States international spent the second half of last season on loan at the French club, and he has now returned to Turin ahead of the new campaign.

"I am thrilled to be back at Juventus," Weah said. "I had a great time at Lille, but I am now ready to take the next step in my career. I am excited to work with Coach Allegri and the rest of the team, and I am confident that we can achieve great things together."

Juventus favorites for Serie A title

Juventus are the favorites to win the Serie A title this season, and they will be looking to Thuram and Weah to make a significant contribution. The Bianconeri have not won the league since 2020, but they will be confident of ending their drought this year.