Sebastian Giovinco
I have to say it: I’m shocked.
Toronto FC will officially announce the signing of Sebastian Giovinco at a Monday press conference, bringing the Juventus attacker to the club for a four-year deal at a reported astronomical salary of $7-million per season.
The soon-to-be 28-year-old brings an element of creativity that the squad has been lacking for some time. The Italian can play as a striker, an attacking mid, or out wide, but it will be interesting to see how he can handle the physical nature of MLS. He isn’t a player that can play with his back to the goal, and is probably better suited in a more traditional “10” role. He also likely becomes the go-to player for free kicks close to goal, with his goal during last week’s Coppa Italia game as a clear example of what he can do from close range.
La Formica Atomica, or Atomic Ant, has been part of the Juventus system for nearly 20 years, starting with the Primavera squad when he was 9-years-old, and making his debut with the senior team in May 2007. He was loaned out twice, one season to Empoli for the 2007/08 season to gain playing time, and for two seasons from 2010-2012 to Parma, where he flourished, scoring 22 goals in 66 appearances.
Being a Juventus fan, watching Giovinco for the last ten years has been a frustrating experience. While he has shown the ability to amaze with fantastic runs, dribbles, and free kicks, the club has never felt that he could fill the shoes of Alessandro Del Piero, the player he was so often compared to in his youth, going as far as to deny his request of the famous number 10 shirt when he came back from his loan stint at Parma, instead handing him the 12 shirt.
How he handles the transition to the North American game will be interesting to see. He brings with him a boat load of talent that he has only been able to show flashes of in Serie A. TFC supporters will hope that he is able to harness that potential, and put it on display on a weekly basis.
