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It’s a bold headline, I know.
Trust me when I say, stranger things have happened in this league.
During a conference call regarding the departure of Toronto FC president Kevin Payne, MLSE head Tim Leiweke hinted at a potential signing from Italy. His actual response was a blunt “Yes” when asked by Anthony Totera if he was looking to sign an Italian Designated Player, catching many off guard; an Italian DP at Toronto FC? There are very few players who could fit the bill.
One of them is Andrea Pirlo.
Toronto FC would need to consider three different and equally important factors when it comes to Pirlo: availability, marketability, and performance. These three key elements must be thoroughly examined before a decision is made. In doing so, however, there emerges one clear picture that points only at Pirlo, and very few others, unless one of these three factors is to be ignored.
First, using Leiweke’s statement yesterday about searching for an Italian DP, it can be assumed that Leiweke will be signing at least one DP from Serie A if he gets his way. That’s not to say that all three potential DP signings will come from Serie A, but Leiweke chose to forego the usual answer, which goes to the tune of “we’re actively searching in all areas using our network of scouts, etc. etc. etc..”
Leiweke said, bluntly: Yes – we are looking in Italy. That is the first qualifier in availability, since Pirlo is not only a Serie A player, he’s a bit of a legend in the league. His playing career includes an illustrious stay at A.C. Milan and, more recently, Pirlo is making his name heard loud and clear wearing the black-and-white stripes of Juventus. He is also a fan favourite, a hero for the Italian national team, and, coincidentally, a defensive midfielder, an area Toronto FC has actively filled with DP signings.
Availability isn’t just about qualifying as a candidate, though – it also comes with your actual availability. Pirlo has one year left on his contract in Juventus and would be a free agent after this season is over. Leiweke is adamant that a signing will happen in January, and Pirlo could very well commit to Toronto FC, but would need to finish off his time at Juventus, which means he’d need to arrive sometime next summer. However, Toronto FC also has $25 million to spend on DP signings, and Major League Soccer’s murky rulebook on superstar signings means that a little extra allocation money could find its way into Toronto FC’s pockets somehow.
In any case, Pirlo’s contract situation coupled with his qualifications as an Italian star player makes him a real potential option for Toronto FC. His history, reputation and, well, his ethnicity all seem to suggest so. There is a bit of discomfort that comes when singling out a player based on race, which I personally believe is less to do with your ethnicity and more to do with the style in which the country plays its football. Brazilian footballers aren’t naturally slight-footed; the more logical explanation is that the leagues in which Brazilian footballers grow up in and turn professional through encourage that style of play.
This is an area that should be addressed by someone at Toronto FC, with a simple statement to the affect of “we believe Serie A talent will fit with our intended style of play.” Otherwise, to sign a player based on ethnicity alone is a dangerous game to play, as Toronto FC learned when the club splashed money at Julian de Guzman for his Canadian passport and not much else.
In any case, Pirlo’s Italian roots lead us to the next factor, marketability. It’s not a stretch to say that de Guzman was brought to Toronto FC to appeal to the Canadian soccer fanbase, and while he didn’t pan out in terms of performances, the idea itself was a good one from a marketing standpoint. He, and his fellow national team midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, returned home to Toronto, where they started. It was, in truth, brilliantly executed. However, Pirlo would appeal to an entirely different and yet equally numerous segment of Toronto FC fans.
Toronto is a city that hosts one of the largest Italian communities in North America. When Toronto FC took on A.S. Roma only a few weeks back, the city flocked to BMO Field with Francesco Totti’s name painted on their backs. This is a city that would embrace any Italian international because of an intense love of the national team. Growing up, I remember the World Cup not for the lack of cartoons on television but because of the loud, proud and always passionate Italian supporters in Toronto. This fanbase is what a player like Pirlo would be marketed towards.
Though it may be bothersome to the more loyal and true fans at Toronto FC, Leiweke will want to capitalize on the city’s love of such a player. Pirlo would provide Toronto FC with a marketing masterstroke, a player who can appeal to the local market while also generate headlines abroad. It would open up connections to MLS, like Di Vaio did with Nesta, as Beckham continues to do with players like Lampard or the numerous new faces who cite his name when asked why they came to MLS. If Toronto FC wants a big-name player, Pirlo is one of very few players coming out of contract in 2014 who fits the bill.
Finally, you have the most important factor of all – performance. The simple truth is that there is no sense signing a player who either cannot play at the required level and beyond or will only feature for a short time. In this sense, Pirlo has shown a timeless quality that sees him continue to start for Juventus and, oftentimes, for the national team at the age of 34. Toronto FC can hope to get a maximum of three years out of a player like Pirlo, though. It’s not unusual, since Toronto’s last major signing, Torsten Frings, came in at a similar age but struggled with injuries. Still, Frings, when healthy, dominated in midfield and showed an ability to play at a high level, much like Di Vaio, Thierry Henry and Beckham showed, too.
The question of Pirlo’s performance has more to do with how healthy he can stay and if Toronto FC’s forwards can link up with him well. All things considered, Pirlo may just be Toronto FC’s target – he’s available, marketable and can probably perform. If Toronto FC is looking for players not available on a free transfer, the door opens up to players like Fabio Quagliarella or Luca Toni.
If Toronto doesn’t care about marketability, there are other names available who will be out of contract in 2014. A trio of Argentines will be available, in Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito and Nicolas Burdisso. Though marketable, they would not really appeal to Toronto’s Italian community as much as a player like Pirlo would, drawing in a few Inter Milan fans, but little else.
Other than that, there are few names that stand out for Toronto FC. Though it is very premature to make any sort of prediction at this point, it’s relatively safe to say that Toronto FC is aware of Pirlo’s situation in Italy. Could he be the player Leiweke alluded to? Perhaps, perhaps not. However, if Kevin Payne was let go due to a difference in opinion, it could very well be that Leiweke is looking to sign a big name player for Toronto FC like he did when Beckham came to Los Angeles. Payne, the much more practical type, could have disagreed, aiming for a more practical player like Maxi Moralez of Atalanta, for example.
January cannot come soon enough, that’s for sure. Imagine, if you will, the legendary Andrea Pirlo, clad in TFC red, standing 20 yards away from goal, hands at his hips, a wall of defenders in front of him.
Wouldn’t that be something?
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