Featured Image Credit: Getty/American Agenda
Topics: Donald Trump, Juventus, Football, FIFA Club World Cup
Ben McCrum
Topics: Donald Trump, Juventus, Football, FIFA Club World Cup
Donald Trump made another weird comment about America during his meeting with the Juventus squad at The White House.
Ahead of their Club World Cup opening fixture against Al Ahli in Washington DC, several Juventus players were invited to meet with American President Trump in the famous oval office.
US internationals Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie were among the group of players who attended the meeting, but things didn't exactly go to plan.
Although the meeting was believed to be simply to promote the Club World Cup, which is being hosted across the US, Trump used the meeting to promote his political views, making a highly controversial comment about transgender athletes.
Advert
But it has now been revealed that this wasn't the only awkward comment made by Trump during the meeting, as he pointed straight at Manuel Locatelli while making a weird statement about America.
Throughout both of Trump's terms as president, he has regularly discussed policies relating to immigration to the United States, and his meeting with the Juventus squad was just another one of these moments.
After being presented with a custom Juventus shirt with his name and the number 47, representing that fact that he is America's 47th president, Trump wished the players good luck before asking: “Who are you playing against? Oh, Al Ain spends a lot of money, right?”
Advert
John Elkann, the CEO of Juventus' owners Exor, replied: “Yes, here are the best teams in the world.”
To which Trump responded by pointing at Italian international Locatelli and his teammates, declaring: “Like some of these guys behind me. If they come legally, we want them.
"They have to say they love America, they love our country. And if they can’t say that, we don’t want them.”
Advert
The comment was just one of several that Juventus forward Weah later admitted had made him and his teammates feel uncomfortable.
“I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it’s kind of like, I just want to play football man," he said, via The Athletic.
Juventus went on the win their match against Al Ahli 5-0 and will face Moroccan side Wydad AC in their second group stage fixture on Sunday.