2015 will always be remembered as the year that Sebastian Giovinco tore through Major League Soccer in such a way that was unexpected and unprecedented. The Toronto FC man has been taking in all the plaudits – but may have been rewarded further with some eye-catching transfer news.
Despite being knocked out of the play-offs by Canadian rivals Montreal; Giovinco has had a strong first season in Major League Soccer and has easily been the best Toronto player in what should have been a much further in the play-off’s season for the Reds.
Current champions of Europe Barcelona are reportedly scouting out transfer targets and Giovinco is one of them. Toronto president Bill Manning confirmed that the Spanish club had contacted them over a possible deal but Manning was not in the mood for selling his star man. However no official word has been given on the part of Barcelona themselves.
.@torontofc prez Bill Manning just dropped that Barcelona contacted them about acquiring Sebastian Giovinco. TFC said no @Linknewspaper @MLS
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) November 6, 2015
Of course it is no surprise that Giovinco would be catching the eye of the worlds best team after such an impressive campaign personally. No less than four goal of the year nominations are his; with the Atomic Ant having 22 goals to his name this season and 16 assists to follow suit.
4 Sebastian Giovinco strikes are up for @MLS Goal Of The Year.
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) November 5, 2015
VOTE → https://t.co/dJhxvV42M7
Selling Giovinco may make Toronto a quick buck, but it sends the wrong message out. If the League wants to attract the best players, it needs to keep them. Giovinco may suffer himself because he is undoubtedly the main man in Toronto but a move to the Nou Camp could land himself as a regular on the bench rather than the starting eleven.
Toronto have always suffered from a lack of consistency, and have had trouble keeping a core side over the years with so many in and out of the team, players and staff alike. Selling Giovinco would extend these problems even further.
The Italian ruled out a loan move back to Italy over the winter off-season in order to stay sharp. He said he was not considering one at the moment but his feelings could change nearer the time. He certainly would not be short of options if he was to make himself available.
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It will be a long off-season, not just because of the bad taste left in the mouth of Toronto fans after the 3-0 demolition at the hands of Montreal Impact. More so because the Giovinco rumors will continue to spread as more and more teams get added to the lift of possible suitors.
Factor in that Euro 2016 is not too far away, a loan-move back to Europe could well be more likely than Giovinco is letting on if he is to fulfill his ambitions with the Italian national team. However he is keen to show Toronto fans that club football is his priority and that nothing should interrupt that.
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While Toronto are out of the play-offs there is still plenty of action left. Seattle Sounders beat FC Dallas 2-1. Montreal find themselves in the same position as Seattle having also taken first blood with a 2-1 win over Columbus. The only game without a goal was Portland versus Vancouver.