By Canadian Press

Toronto FC set to add more star quality with an Italian flavour with Bernardeschi

Jul 15, 2022 | 1:15 PM

TORONTO — It’s been hurry up and wait with Toronto FC in recent months as Bob Bradley remakes the MLS club.

Wait for Lorenzo Insigne to sign — and then arrive. Wait for Domenico Criscito to choose Toronto. Wait for the Carlos Salcedo situation to sort itself out.

Now the wait for Federico Bernardeschi is over.

The out-of-contract Juventus winger, who has been in TFC’s sights for some time, was scheduled to land in Toronto on Friday, according to a source granted anonymity because the signing had not been announced. It’s expected he will be formally introduced as a TFC player early next week.

For his part, Toronto coach Bob Bradley was staying mum.

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“Nothing final,” he said after training Friday when asked about Bernardeschi.

But Bradley did concede that a previous meeting in Toronto with the 28-year-old Italian international had gone well.

“The discussion about the (style of) football and what we are working to do (was) all positive. He came across in a good way and a lot of people have been working hard. So hopefully it’s almost there.”

Asked if he believes the club is nearing the finish line on Bernardeschi, Bradley replied: “I would think so … I know that he loves football, which means he wants to get going, one way or another.”

Bernardeschi would become the third Italian to join TFC this season, following star winger Lorenzo Insigne and veteran fullback Domenico Criscito. Like Insigne, he would have designated player status on the roster.

Toronto has also added Canadian midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye via a trade with Colorado.

Bernardeschi, who has both Champions and Europa League experience, has won 38 caps for Italy with six goals and six assists.

The July 7 trade that sent former league MVP Alejandro Pozuelo to Inter Miami CF opened up a designated player spot for Bernardeschi. The decision to terminate Mexican defender Carlos Salcedo’s contract by mutual consent, announced earlier this week, frees up another DP opening.

Criscito has already featured on the field for Toronto, wasting little time showing his composure and experience. Insigne, recovering from a calf issue, continues to work out on his own with Bradley targeting the July 23 home game against Charlotte FC as a possible debut.

While Insigne and Bernardeschi would give Toronto a potent tandem flanking Spanish striker Jesus Jimenez, help is needed for a backline that ranks 26th in the 28-team league, conceding 1.90 goals a game on average. The team has not registered a shutout in league play since a 0-0 draw in Colorado on Sept. 25, 2021.

Toronto’s defence is low on bodies with the departure of Salcedo, who wanted to return to Mexico for family reasons. He has since signed with FC Juarez.

French-born Congolese international Chris Mavinga, in his sixth season with the club, is nursing a hamstring issue and is unavailable for Saturday’s game at CF Montreal.

Mavinga took to social media to apologize after a forgettable outing mid-week in a 2-0 loss at Chicago.

Mavinga limped off in the 31st minute, feeling his hamstring. Lukas MacNaughton came off the bench to join Shane O’Neill at centre back. Criscito can also play in the heart of the defence.

“It’s an area where we’re pretty thin, no doubt about that,” said Bradley.

Mavinga, a father of two whose wife gave birth to their son in December, said via social media that he has been dealing with family issues off the pitch. He later sent a tweet directed at doctors, nurses and volunteers at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children thanking them saving our kids lives during Christmas and New Year’s Day.”

It’s clear that Bradley, who doubles as the club’s sporting director, has more personnel moves to make.

“To make a really good team, there’s a lot to do still … We’ll see what else is possible in this period (the MLS secondary transfer window),” he said. “And have the rest of the season to push and grow. And then we’ll be ready when the season’s over to look at ourselves in a hard way and figure out where we go next.”

Toronto (5-11-4) stands 10 points and nine places below fourth-place Montreal (9-8-2) in the Eastern Conference standings. While TFC is seven points out of the playoffs, Bradley believes the post-season is still possible.

“Yes, I think we can do it,” he said. “It’s going to be hard work.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2022

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press