As maligned as Bryan Cristante is among sections of the Roma fanbase, the embattled 30-year-old midfielder always seems to emerge unscathed. In the same way cockroaches and Twinkies can survive nuclear fallout, Cristante remains impervious to the slings and arrows flung at him from every corner of the Eternal City. Still, despite that turmoil, Cristante has persisted, making 30 or more appearances in six of his seven seasons with the club.
From Eusebio Di Francesco to Claudio Ranieri to Paulo Fonseca
to José Mourinho to Daniele De Rossi to Ivan Juric to Claudio Ranieri (again), Cristante has surfed the waves of change in Trigoria like Kelly Slater mastering the break at Pipeline. Thanks to his stamina and passing ability, Cristante has been a consistent if unremarkable presence at the Stadio Olimpico, surviving every managerial and tactical change the club has thrown at him since 2018.
While the arrival of Gian Piero Gasperini, under whom Cristante had what was arguably the best season of his career in 2017 (nine goals and two assists), should have quieted the voices of discontent, Cristante again finds himself in the transfer spotlight — but with a notable twist.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus is considering (and proposing) an interesting trade deal with Roma: Bryan Cristante for Weston McKennie. On the surface, it seems strange that Juve would be willing to swap McKennie (soon to be 27) for Cristante (30), but the Gazzetta claims this deal is as much about contractual length as anything else.
With his deal expiring in June and no progress on a new contract, Juve is eager to secure a transfer for McKennie before he becomes a free agent after the upcoming season. Adding Cristante would bring a seasoned Italian veteran to Juventus's midfield, a trait that Juve’s manager, Igor Tudor, reportedly values. However, according to the Gazzetta, Roma would prefer to include Lorenzo Pellegrini in any trade for McKennie, since both their deals expire after the season.
We seldom see simple one-for-one swaps in Serie A, and Roma would likely want a chance to hammer out a new contract with McKennie before acquiring the Texas-born midfielder, so this rumor, as intriguing as it may be, doesn't really cut the mustard.
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