Forza Insigne: Italian TFC fans hold their breath until Napoli star shows up

A fan didn’t think about the rumors. Another found them a little crazy. A third did not believe them, at first. Some will hold their breath until the official announcement is made.

Disbelief was the emotion that prevailed among Toronto FC’s Italian-Canadian fans as link after link between the Reds and playmaker Lorenzo Insigne, the reigning 30-year-old European champion with Italy and a Serie A stalwart. with his hometown club, Napoli, he appeared. on the football news in recent weeks, both at home and abroad.

It turned to excitement this week when reports from Italy suggested a deal had been reached between TFC and the Italian forward.

The Reds have yet to comment, but an announcement is expected Saturday. The club posted a teaser tweet on Friday night, with the definition of the Italian word “tiraggiro,” which describes the type of long-range, curved shot that Insigne is known for. The post featured a GIF of a player scoring such a goal, but the player himself, Insigne, scoring at Euro 2020 last summer had been cropped.

He added to the Insigne rumor that he had already touched the city in Toronto.

This is “easily” Chris Spadafora’s most excited season for a TFC season.

“I’m actually debating whether to get tickets for the season,” said Spadafora, who hosts a podcast called Footy Culture with five of his friends. “They have not been good since they lost (Sebastián Giovinco) and now they are bringing Insigne. They should be back at the highest level and I will be watching every game. ”

Spadafora, whose grandparents are from Italy, has roots with Juventus in Serie A, but has known Insigne since he was a 20-year-old on loan from Napoli in Pescara in Serie B, Italy’s second division, in 2011 and 2012..

“I could see the potential in him,” Spadafora said. “His dribble? Incredible. Unsurpassed, more or less. Your creativity, second to none. His shot out of the box is ridiculous.

Angelo De Luca, owner of Toronto Italian Calcio, a soccer store in Vaughan primarily aimed at Italian soccer fans, has similarly followed Insigne’s career from the beginning. His family hails from Naples. If De Luca were to pick a second team behind his beloved Juventus, it would be the team Insigne has captained for nearly three years.

“I would never have thought, of all the Serie A players, that Insigne would leave Napoli because the Napoli fans are really loyal and he’s from Napoli and there’s really no one else in the team that appreciates being Napolitano in the team. DeLuca said.

But with Napoli reportedly asking Insigne to cut his salary in a new deal after his current contract expires this summer, De Luca understands how the player could be lured by Toronto’s league-record offer of $ 16.7 million, plus bonuses. , by year.

If recent calls to De Luca’s store are any indication, Torontons are ready to welcome Insigne with open arms. De Luca said many customers have reached out to ask to be notified when Insigne’s Toronto FC jerseys become available. He’s working to get in touch with Adidas Canada, hoping he can get some jerseys from the store. He estimates that he will be able to sell hundreds.

De Luca believes that the TFC front office has noticed how the addition of Italian players can make a difference on the field, in the stands and in your pocket.

“It’s definitely going to fill the stadium,” De Luca said. “I noticed that after Giovinco left, the stadium was not that full. I know that many Italians are committed to their team or to that player, so there will be a lot of fans in the game. ”

Toni Canale Parola, a subscriber since the club’s inception and a member of the Red Patch Boys for more than a decade, agrees. The last time the team had an Italian star, it saw Serie A fans push TFC out of the background.

“When Giovinco arrived, there was more enthusiasm, even with older Italians wanting to buy shirts or go watch the game or pick up a shirt or watch it on television,” he said. “It created a lot of interest among them.”

Giovinco’s arrival in 2015 was the icing on the cake for a team that already had a solid core, including captain Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, Canale Parola said. Insigne’s arrival is more of a fresh start than a finishing touch, after the club finished last season sitting penultimate. Canale Parola is among fans who believe TFC still needs to improve their defense and add support for Insigne up front. Reports from Italy have linked the club with other Italian players such as Andrea Belotti and Domenico Criscito. Giovinco has also expressed his desire to return to TFC.

Other reports from Italy have suggested that moving to MLS could jeopardize Insigne’s place on the national team, but these Italy fans aren’t worried. As long as Insigne maintains its caliber of play, they hope it will still be in contention for the World Cup team if the country makes it to the tournament next year.

Simone Mancini was born in Italy and moved to Toronto in 1975, has been a TFC season ticket holder since day one and has been a member of the Kings In The North fan group since first year. He believes a key to Insigne’s continued success in MLS will be support, on and off the field. There is always a transition period on the field for players moving from Europe to MLS, but there is also the personal side of the move to consider.

“You take into consideration a player who leaves his hometown, where he grew up as an academy player, and is that going to be more difficult?” Mancini said.

Mancini won’t quite believe Insigne is Red until the official announcement. He’s cautiously excited though, both for what the player will do for the team and a league that Mancini began following long before TFC came to town.

“I’m tired of people saying for the last 20 years that (MLS) is a retirement league,” Mancini said. “No, that’s not the case and we haven’t seen it in the last three, four years, even with great players. They did not come here to retire. It’s great for the league and if (Insigne) wants to come and keep doing his thing, I totally agree. ”