TORONTO – The Atomic Ant is finally here.
A day after being greeted at Pearson Airport by close hundreds of vocal fans, Sebastian Giovinco was formally introduced as a Toronto FC player by MLSE during a Friday morning press conference at Air Canada Centre, capping off what has been another wild off-season for the Reds.
“I will try to pay back this welcoming and the trust on the field,” the Italian midfielder said through a translator, flanked at the head table by TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and his agent Andrea D’Amico.
“I want to win with this jersey because I want to be part of the history of this organization and this team.”
Watch: Full TFC-Giovinco press conference || Giovinco silences doubters || Bezbatchenko: ‘Seba a player of many roles’ || Giovinco: “I want to win with this jersey’ || Bezbatchenko: ‘Giovinco fits vision of TFC’ || Giovinco to start season in MLS a huge coup || Giovinco’s arrival symbol of new era for MLS
Giovinco, 28, decided to leave Juventus and turned down the chance to join teams in Europe to sign a multi-year deal worth $7 million per season with Toronto last month. He fell down the depth chart this season at Juventus and saw little action in Serie A. But the newest member of TFC feels he has plenty to offer.
“In Italy, I had many problems,” Giovinco said. “They were always talking about me as a player who could not play at very high levels. But I always demonstrated with facts that that was not correct. I wanted to find a city and a team that from the beginning welcomed me as this team has done. Therefore, my choice was the right choice.”
Giovinco was one of 50 players from around the world of potential off-season targets drafted by Bezbatchenko and his staff last October. That number was eventually whittled down to five players, with Giovinco topping the list.
“It was apparent that we had some holes in our team,” Bezbatchenko admitted. “Rather than selecting a player and building a team around a player, what we needed to do this year was look at our team, analyze it and fill in the holes. … The attacking midfielder position was the one we felt we most needed to fill in our off-season.”
Bezbatchenko sees the signing of Giovinco not only as a watershed moment for TFC, but also for Major League Soccer.
“It’s a moment in time where the league has evolved over the last two years where world-class players are looking at MLS as a destination. Most importantly, this is a moment for our club—about continuing our ambition to be a top international club,” Bezbatchenko stated.
Giovinco wasn’t present at last month’s press conference at the ACC where TFC announced his signing, as he was still playing for Italian club Juventus—although the team did play a video message from him during the proceedings. Friday marked his coming out party in front of the local media and a fan base that is starving for success after watching TFC fail to make the playoffs for eight straight years.
If all goes well, the Italian should be able to help Toronto end its post-season drought.
Giovinco is a versatile player who can play as a striker, winger or attacking midfielder. Nicknamed the La Formica Atomica (The Atomic Ant)—he stand five-feet-four-inches—Giovinco is a talented playmaker, renowned for his dribbling skills, passing range and free kick prowess.
Bezabatchenko heralded Giovinco’s ability to “unlock defences, who (can) connect the play from the defence and midfield up to the forwards, (and) somebody who can score goals.”
Asked what his preferred position was, Giovinco answered “striker.” That doesn’t quite align with the vision of TFC coach Greg Vanney, who said he sees the Italian playing behind American forward Jozy Altidore in a supporting role. But Giovinco is nothing if not versatile, and with what he’s getting paid, he’ll be expected to adapt and perform on the pitch regardless of what position he plays.
A native of Turin, Giovinco played for hometown Juventus off and on since 2006, scoring 12 goals in 91 Serie A appearances. Giovinco has also scored one goal in 21 games for Italy, and played for his country at Euro 2012 when the Azzurri lost to Spain in the final, and at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He missed out on playing for Italy at last summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
Giovinco doesn’t believe his arrival in MLS automatically signals the end of his career with the Azzurri, even though Italian national team managers in recent history have a track record of overlooking players who ply their trade outside of Serie A.
“I spoke with (Italy coach Antonio Conte). I told him that I made this choice, and that anytime he needs me I would join the national team. I know that it’s very difficult but difficulties are what bring the best out of me,” Giovinco said.
Giovnco signed with Toronto FC in mid-January and was slated to join the Reds in July when his contract with Juventus expired. But according to Bezbatchenko, Giovinco negotiated an early release, allowing him to join his new team well in time for the start of the 2015 MLS season
The Giovinco deal is just the latest major roster shakeup to take place at TFC. Earlier this winter, the club confirmed the transfer of English forward Jermain Defoe to Premier League club Sunderland in return for Altidore.
Giovinco will train with his new teammates for the first time early next week in Toronto. TFC begins the MLS regular season on March 7, away to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
