Player who turned down Aston Villa now unwanted by current team

Weston McKennie, the 25-year-old American midfielder, finds himself at a crossroads in his career after rejecting a move to Aston Villa. The decision has not only cost him a potential starting role in the Premier League but has also left him with no future at his current club, Juventus.

McKennie, who has just 12 months remaining on his contract with the Italian giants, was a key figure in Juventus' pursuit of Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz. The Bianconeri had hoped to include McKennie and young prospect Samuel Iling-Junior in the deal to lower costs, but the American's salary demands proved to be a stumbling block.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta, McKennie was seeking a salary of around €5 million per season, double his current wages at Juventus. Aston Villa, unwilling to meet these demands, ultimately opted for Enzo Barrenechea instead, leaving McKennie in limbo.

To make matters worse, new Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has made it abundantly clear that McKennie does not feature in his plans for the upcoming season. The direct communication from the manager follows months of strained discussions between the player's representatives and the club, stemming from McKennie's rejection of a contract renewal that included a salary reduction.

Despite being one of Juventus' standout performers last season, McKennie's future at the Turin-based side now appears bleak. The club is determined to sell the midfielder during the current transfer window, and failure to secure a move before the start of the new season could see him excluded from the first-team squad altogether.

Finding a new club willing to meet his salary demands may prove challenging for the American international, with few teams across Europe's top leagues likely to offer the figures he is seeking. A return to the United States or a move to Turkey, where he reportedly rejected offers last summer, could be potential options, albeit at a reduced salary.

Weston McKennie will need to carefully consider his next move. The decision to reject Aston Villa's advances may come back to haunt him, as he now faces an uncertain future with no place in Thiago Motta's Juventus project.