"I had an idea through Michael and Jeff of everything inside TFC. But having been here now for some weeks, it's been just awesome to get to know people. Seeing that commitment and passion every day, that's important to me. That's important to a club."
"One thing I've always tried with my players and certainly with my family is your ability to look around you and have perspective of other people, other people who don't look like you, who come from different situations, who in some cases aren't as fortunate as you."
"So you need that perspective. And then to go with that, you need this idea that you can't be afraid of challenges. That you never know what's going to happen tomorrow, so don't be afraid. Go for it."
Bob Bradley worked with a young Mohamed Salah when he was the coach of Egypt. He knew that Salah was a special talent and future star, and made him a starter at age 19. They still stay in touch now.
"I still stay in touch with him. He's a spectacular guy. Humble."
🇮🇹⭐ Lorenzo Insigne is the centerpiece of TFC's ambitious new project, and the team will be built around him.
Terrific technical ability. Excellent passer. Scores goals, provides assists, creates chances, combines very well, and links the phases of play together.
🇮🇹 Lorenzo Insigne is a high-volume player. He gets a lot more touches and completes a lot more passes than other wingers/attackers. He likes to shoot a lot from distance and often scores golazos, though isn't a clinical finisher. Almost every attack flows through him.
Bill Manning says Lorenzo Insigne and his family are looking forward to a different life experience in Toronto. The schooling for his two sons, who attend an international school in Naples, is important to him. And he'll have support from the large Italian community.
Bill Manning confirmed that he worked with Lino DiCuollo and Andrea D'Amico in TFC's pursuit of Insigne. His first call was to D'Amico, with a list of targets—Insigne at the top—to check if they would be interested. DiCuollo, former MLS VP, is now an advisor to Manning.
👀 Andrea D'Amico was the intermediary for Toronto FC in the Insigne negotiations. He now says TFC was focused on Insigne as their main target, but they also have 5 or 6 other targets and will soon start working on more signings.
"We were focused on closing Insigne's operation, but the club has 5 or 6 targets, we'll soon start working on others. I haven't talked to the club yet, but I have an institutional relationship with them that is not limited to only this deal."
Perfect example of how Lorenzo Insigne can be very influential, even when he doesn't score or assist. The attack flows through him. Creates chances, combines very well, likes to shoot from distance, often plays the "pass before the pass" in buildup to goals.