Major League Soccer
Toronto FC Signs Sebastian Giovinco: 8 Strong Takes
We asked a handful of soccer pundits to give us their perspective on Toronto FC's $7 million per year signee, Italian midfielder Sebastian Giovinco. Oh, and we made them do it in 100 words or less.
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune
As interesting as the particulars of Sebastian Giovinco’s record contract is the timing, just days before the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players. MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott has been telling people that the league, its clubs, and marketing arm still lose more than $100 million annually—no doubt a negotiating tactic to preserve the single-entity system that has kept the minimum salary at $36,504. But if you’re losing so much money, why is a club that has never qualified for the MLS playoffs forking over $35 million-plus over the next five years on a five-foot-five Italian midfielder? Can’t have it both ways. Brian Sciaretta, ASN contributing editor
In a move that dwarfed signing Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC signed Giovinco to a blockbuster deal that will make him the world’s highest paid Italian player. It bucks the stereotype that only European stars at the tail end of their careers make their way to MLS and that is good—but it comes at a price. Toronto is overpaying for talent and acquiring similar stars will now prove more difficult as similar players will seek similar money. On the field, after a disaster in 2014, all expectations will be on Toronto to not just make the playoffs but go far as well. Kristan Heneage, soccer writer
Giovinco is a good player with one fatal flaw: He’s 6kgs lighter and one inch shorter than Messi.
Travis Clark, TopDrawerSoccer.com
On the surface, there's plenty to be excited about Giovinco. An experienced player, coming from a big European club, just 27 years old. But it's a trend that's becoming worrisome in MLS: the wage gap between the highest and lowest earners on the squad. And wildly overpaying to lure players from Europe doesn't seem sustainable for a league that cries poverty at every turn. Development, while less buzzworthy, needs to be the pillar MLS continues to build on, with Giovinco-like signings few and far between. Jon Arnold, Goal.com (and ASN from time to time)
There are no game-changers any more, but perhaps there are trailblazers. This doesn't signal that other nation's internationals are going to flood MLS making big money, but it opens the door to it happening more often. More internationals, higher quality. Higher quality, higher TV ratings. Higher TV ratings, more money. More money, MLS reaches one of world's top leagues by 2022. It's not that simple and Giovinco's arrival doesn't secure any of that—but it does make that path more likely. Brooke Tunstall, ASN contributing editor
We should be more excited about this. For years, MLS followers have wanted the league to spend the money needed to nab high-end European national teamers in their prime. Well, Giovinco is 27 and was on Italy’s squad at Euro 2012 and the Confederations Cup two summers ago. That’s as good a pedigree for a foreign player his age as MLS has ever seen. He should fit in very nicely with Toronto, playing between Altidore and Bradley, forming a lethal triangle. Of course, it’s TFC so we’re all waiting to see how they screw it up, but this signing is still a big deal for MLS. Will Parchman, TopDrawerSoccer.com
From a soccer standpoint, Giovinco makes a lot of sense in Toronto. TFC never really addressed its pressing need for a No. 10 in 2014, and the overloaded midfield showed the strain. This should free Bradley to stay a bit deeper and release Altidore, who will benefit from better service than he ever had at Sunderland. But from a monetary perspective? A bit shakier. This is a lot of cash for a guy who's played sparingly this season and is presumably out of form. Better hope he regains it quickly. Nick Kariuki, ASN contributor
The Giovinco signing feels similar to last season’s deal for Defoe. While Juventus is a higher caliber team than Spurs, both proven goal scorers were struggling for significant playing time. Beating the European clubs that were linked with the Italian is certainly impressive but Vanney and Toronto now need to make sure that in the three months before the Italian arrives they set up a squad and system where he is a contributing factor to the team’s first playoff run, not the carrying force. For a start, Altidore will need to shake his funk and Bradley needs defensive support. John Godfrey, ASN editor in chief
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and shelling out $35 million for Giovinco tells me that Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko knows full well that his employment status and reputation are officially at risk. The former MLS executive made all the wrong moves last year, overspending on stars while leaving gaping holes in the lineup. Is he doing the same this season? Possibly. If TFC misses the playoffs yet again, expect front office changes—yet again. Now it's your turn, soccer fans. What does the Giovinco signing mean to you? (100 words or less, please.)
As interesting as the particulars of Sebastian Giovinco’s record contract is the timing, just days before the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players. MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott has been telling people that the league, its clubs, and marketing arm still lose more than $100 million annually—no doubt a negotiating tactic to preserve the single-entity system that has kept the minimum salary at $36,504. But if you’re losing so much money, why is a club that has never qualified for the MLS playoffs forking over $35 million-plus over the next five years on a five-foot-five Italian midfielder? Can’t have it both ways. Brian Sciaretta, ASN contributing editor
In a move that dwarfed signing Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC signed Giovinco to a blockbuster deal that will make him the world’s highest paid Italian player. It bucks the stereotype that only European stars at the tail end of their careers make their way to MLS and that is good—but it comes at a price. Toronto is overpaying for talent and acquiring similar stars will now prove more difficult as similar players will seek similar money. On the field, after a disaster in 2014, all expectations will be on Toronto to not just make the playoffs but go far as well. Kristan Heneage, soccer writer
Giovinco is a good player with one fatal flaw: He’s 6kgs lighter and one inch shorter than Messi.
Travis Clark, TopDrawerSoccer.comOn the surface, there's plenty to be excited about Giovinco. An experienced player, coming from a big European club, just 27 years old. But it's a trend that's becoming worrisome in MLS: the wage gap between the highest and lowest earners on the squad. And wildly overpaying to lure players from Europe doesn't seem sustainable for a league that cries poverty at every turn. Development, while less buzzworthy, needs to be the pillar MLS continues to build on, with Giovinco-like signings few and far between. Jon Arnold, Goal.com (and ASN from time to time)
There are no game-changers any more, but perhaps there are trailblazers. This doesn't signal that other nation's internationals are going to flood MLS making big money, but it opens the door to it happening more often. More internationals, higher quality. Higher quality, higher TV ratings. Higher TV ratings, more money. More money, MLS reaches one of world's top leagues by 2022. It's not that simple and Giovinco's arrival doesn't secure any of that—but it does make that path more likely. Brooke Tunstall, ASN contributing editor
We should be more excited about this. For years, MLS followers have wanted the league to spend the money needed to nab high-end European national teamers in their prime. Well, Giovinco is 27 and was on Italy’s squad at Euro 2012 and the Confederations Cup two summers ago. That’s as good a pedigree for a foreign player his age as MLS has ever seen. He should fit in very nicely with Toronto, playing between Altidore and Bradley, forming a lethal triangle. Of course, it’s TFC so we’re all waiting to see how they screw it up, but this signing is still a big deal for MLS. Will Parchman, TopDrawerSoccer.com
From a soccer standpoint, Giovinco makes a lot of sense in Toronto. TFC never really addressed its pressing need for a No. 10 in 2014, and the overloaded midfield showed the strain. This should free Bradley to stay a bit deeper and release Altidore, who will benefit from better service than he ever had at Sunderland. But from a monetary perspective? A bit shakier. This is a lot of cash for a guy who's played sparingly this season and is presumably out of form. Better hope he regains it quickly. Nick Kariuki, ASN contributor
The Giovinco signing feels similar to last season’s deal for Defoe. While Juventus is a higher caliber team than Spurs, both proven goal scorers were struggling for significant playing time. Beating the European clubs that were linked with the Italian is certainly impressive but Vanney and Toronto now need to make sure that in the three months before the Italian arrives they set up a squad and system where he is a contributing factor to the team’s first playoff run, not the carrying force. For a start, Altidore will need to shake his funk and Bradley needs defensive support. John Godfrey, ASN editor in chief
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and shelling out $35 million for Giovinco tells me that Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko knows full well that his employment status and reputation are officially at risk. The former MLS executive made all the wrong moves last year, overspending on stars while leaving gaping holes in the lineup. Is he doing the same this season? Possibly. If TFC misses the playoffs yet again, expect front office changes—yet again. Now it's your turn, soccer fans. What does the Giovinco signing mean to you? (100 words or less, please.)
