The American winger-turned-fullback has had an up-and-down campaign, but it seems like he's in position to end the 2023-24 on a high
It didn't take long for the rumors to start, but they rarely do around a club as big as Juventus. Just a few short months into his time in Turin, Tim Weah was already linked with an exit. Having lost his starting spot, the questions were already coming just a few months into a five-year deal.
Where those rumors originated from? Impossible to say. What we do know, though, is that Weah's recent performances have put them to bed. Weah is a player that can be key for Juve, and these last few weeks have been a good reminder of what he can offer to the Bianconeri.
Over the space of four days, Weah showed what he can do on both sides of the ball. A key assist against Lazio moved Juve one step closer to ending the season with a trophy, before a defensive masterclass against AC Milan eased many doubts about how Weah can fare against the world's best wingers.
And now, with the U.S. men's national team watching on with a keen eye, Weah is in position to add more evidence to his case as he fights for a bigger Juve role in 2024-25.
Getty ImagesFalling out of favor
Weah started the season well enough. He was signed to play as a wingback, a position he'd grown into at Lille after initially playing there as an emergency option. Juve didn't sign him to be an emergency player, though; they signed him to contribute.
He did just that early on. He was a regular starter at right-wingback, beating out USMNT teammate Weston McKennie for the role. He started five matches there before the end of October, prompting McKennie to admit in September that he was resigned to his role as Weah's backup.
It all went wrong, though, when Weah suffered a thigh injury in late October. That injury ruled him out through mid-December and, by the time he came back, his starting spot was gone. Massimiliano Allegri preferred Andrea Cambiaso on the right with Filip Kostic on the left.
Weah had been crowded out, and as a result, he has started just five matches since October, just two of which came between the start of the New Year and mid-April.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTransfer rumors
Reports of a potential Weah exit from Juve started as early as January. At the time, Weah was very much a backup, but there were other clubs that were interested in what he could bring.
According to , Everton made an approach to sign Weah in on loan in January to help with their Premier League survival push. Weah, though, said no, despite the fact that the Toffees may have provided him with minutes on the wing. He was seemingly determined to prove himself at in Turin.
In recent weeks, those rumors popped up once again. Stuck behind Cambiaso at Juve, would Weah be better suited elsewhere? The American star's response was emphatic, as he proved that he can make a difference at both ends of the pitch.
Huge Coppa contribution
Late in the second leg of Juventus' Coppa Italia semifinal against Lazio, the two sides were level at two apiece on aggregate. The Old Lady had thrown away a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, as Valentin Castellanos, a name familiar to American soccer fans due to his time at NYCFC, had netted a brace for Lazio. He could have had more, too, as Juventus were on the ropes.
On, then, came Weah in the 70th minute as Juve's first substitute. It was that change that made all the difference, as Juve booked their place in the Coppa final.
Weah provided the game-winning assist and, to his credit, he did the hard work. His pass across goal left Arkadiusz Milik with little more than a tap-in, giving Juve a lead late on that they wouldn't relinquish.
Fresh off that assist, Weah was then given a starting role against AC Milan, and he certainly wouldn't disappoint…
Getty ImagesLocking down Leao
It's not much of a reward, is it? 'Hey Tim, you're doing great… now go face Rafael Leao.' The Portuguese star has terrorized plenty of fullbacks; he wouldn't terrorize Weah, though.
Instead, it was the other way around. The former Paris Saint-Germain trainee and Juve totally shutdown Milan's high-powered attack, with Weah, in particular, earning praise for how he handled Leao.
In a clash that saw all four of the USMNT's Serie A stars take the field in Weah, McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, it was Weah who was the standout. On the offensive side, he actually had a relatively-quiet game, creating only one real look at goal. But defensively, he was fantastic, winning five duels, three tackles and committing just one foul despite staring down Leao.
Milan's star winger was held to just two shots, one from super long-range. Only one of his seven dribble attempts were successful, while he had just seven total touches in the box.
The gameplan from Juve was simple: don't let Leao or Pulisic beat you, and they didn't. Weah and co. were unlucky not to get a winning goal, they will feel they deserved. But while his team may have been a bit disappointed by the draw, one that leaves them behind Milan in the battle for second place in Serie A, Weah had every reason to be proud of a massive effort.
