Weston McKennie is undoubtedly a Texan. And as any good Texan knows, all pizza is better with ranch dressing, whether it’s from New York, Chicago, Italy or Pizza Hut. Unfortunately, his Juventus teammates don’t seem to understand.
With the release of “All Or Nothing: Juventus,” fans have been given a behind-the-scenes look at the American midfielder’s attempt to adapt to life in Italy. The 23-year-old joined the famed Italian club in 2020 and has become one of the team’s most important midfielders this year. But it wasn’t always easy, as the new Amazon documentary highlights.
Take food, for instance. McKennie is a Texan, more accustomed to cheeseburgers and cookies than pasta and espresso. During one scene as he shares a meal with veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini, McKennie talks about his preferences, explaining why he can’t drink espresso and the best way to eat pizza. Notably, Chiellini is horrified by the idea of putting this “American dressing” on pizza.
As a Texan who puts ranch on my pizza whenever possible, I feel for McKennie here. These Italians, cultured though they may be, are missing out if they haven’t tried ranch on pizza. (Personally, I prefer a spicy ranch, but classic Hidden Valley is never a bad choice.)
I’m a bit weirded out that the subtitles translated “sauce” to “salsa” — even the person tasked with the subtitles does not understand what ranch dressing is and why it must be on pizza. Gianluigi Buffon’s reaction was pretty priceless though.
While I think McKennie should branch out and explore more Italian cuisine, you can’t blame him for talking about what he loves. I feel his pain; as a Texan living in Colorado, it’s hard to go through life without a Whataburger within driving distance. I can only imagine how Weston feels an ocean away from the best fast food chain in the world.
And if you need any more evidence McKennie is a Texan, check out his throw-ins, which may or may not be legal.
