Lorenzo Insigne’s former agent calls the potential move to MLS club Toronto FC a ‘lifestyle choice’ more than a career one when leaving Napoli for ‘exhibition football, not a proper competition.’
There are multiple reports from SportMediaset, Sky Sport Italia and more today claiming the Napoli captain has agreed a huge €10m per season net salary for five years with Toronto FC.
It is meant to be for June, when his contract with Napoli expires, but Toronto are pushing for a January switch with fee paid to the Partenopei.
Insigne to Toronto FC, latest updates: MLS side push for January move
He’d be following in the footsteps of former Toronto FC hero Sebastian Giovinco, although the 30-year-old’s possible switch to Major League Soccer is disappointing many in Italy, including Insigne’s ex-agent.
“It’s a lifestyle choice more than a career one,” Antonio Ottaiano told Radio Marte.
“A decision like this means playing a very different type of sport. It’s exhibition football, not a proper competition. We’d need to see what his priorities are, who he is getting advice from.
“Naturally, we Italians struggle to understand a move like this, yet Giovinco did it. Only those who are in this situation can understand how much the salary pushes them to accept or not.”
Insigne is only 30 years old and fresh from an impressive set of performances for Italy at UEFA EURO 2020.
He has attracted interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Inter, Lazio and Roma, but would be likely to leave Serie A rather than represent a rival to his hometown club Napoli.
Insigne contributed five goals and six assists in 18 competitive games for the Partenopei so far this season.
Napoli, l’ex agente: “#Insigne in Canada? Sono scelte di vita”. #SportMediaset https://t.co/6h1sp75jmr pic.twitter.com/shMHn1nhuL
— SportMediaset.it (@sportmediaset) December 28, 2021
MLS is clearly not the level of Europe’s big leagues, but it’s about money. Only. Not exhibition football, whatever that even means.
A few European and South American nations would be wise to stop with the snobbery. Say what you will but the USA is investing a lot of money in this sport. Already they have superior stadiums to Serie A, by and large.
Agree with Brandon, you don’t have to follow MLS every day to see the investment in soccer/football is huge and genuine. Hopefully in the future some cross-Atlantic games with something at stake can prove this.
As a fellow Montreal fan (now a MLS club) since the mid 2000s, I think it’s time we give the league some respect. It sure drives and fuels some genuine emotions and has delivered its load of great moments.
Toronto FC is owned by MLSE who also owns the Toronto team in the NHL (ice hockey) and NBA (basketball). Larger company is Bell Media. There is no shortage of money with them.
The fact that they can offer Insigne what they are compared to what Napoli are speaks volumes. Exhibition football, no. Far from it. Didn’t Higuain say that he was pleasantly surprised at the decent level in the league?
I have gone to the odd MLS match before. It has become a retirement league. I saw ex-Spain and Barca legend David Villa score a goal a few Meters in front of me. Pirlo, Kaka, Nesta, Drogba.
Low stress too. Had a look at the MLS Standings and TFC were near the bottom. In the summer, baseball is the #1 sport in that city.
He will go. But only question remains is it’s in January or May.
The league rarely has its talents scooped up from European teams. The talent just isn’t there. Alphonso Davies is an anomaly. But he’s canadiN. ❤️🇨🇦
Brandon: well said.
Re: Insigne in general. Call it what you want but the reality is there is no money in Italy and as is Serie A is barely a top 3 destination for European footballers so normal for others to move on for better compensation etc. more of a reflection of the current state of Italy then a character flaw on Insigne. But I am bias as I have a rooting interest in Insigne coming to Toronto 🇨🇦🇮🇹
@Brandon…
Which is it?
1. First, you state that MLS is not an exhibition league but far from it.
2. Then, in your next paragraph you state that after attending the odd MLS match MLS is a retirement league.
3. This result is strictly on De Laurentis who does not intend to increase Insigne’s annual salary.
4. Napoli generate more than enough revenue to compensate Insigne without sacrificing player quality.
5. Seria A coub management have finally begun investing in stadium renovation and domd new stadium construction. Although, this should have occurred 5 years ago.
6. Mapei stadium and the new San Siro project are such examples. Although, 2027 for the new San Siro debut should have already hsppened.
Vittorio talk to mr commisso about the beaurorcracy and borderline futility regarding Italian stadiums. They’re decrepit and despite all these things you say, they don’t happen because there’s no money in Italy or no will (see hypocritical growth decree exemptions they’re proposing to extend for every industry BUT sport). Infrastructure is decades beyond repair nevermind “should’ve been done 5 years ago” LMFAO. These are just some of the facets of the clear examples of Italian football deteriorating infrastructure. Insigne and others leaving are simply symptoms brugh.
Career-killing move.