Toronto – Toronto FC separates ways with designated player Federico Bernardeschi with the expectation that colleague Italian Lorenzo Insigne will follow him the door.
The Major League Soccer Club and Bernardeschi have agreed to end the wing player’s contract, with TFC one of the two permitted buyouts of his guaranteed deal with the help of his guaranteed deal.
“After internal discussions with Federico we were agreed that this was the right time to separate,” said Toronto GM Jason Hernandez in a statement. “We want to thank Fede for his contributions to Toronto FC in the past three years and wish him the best in the next chapter of his career.”
The two Italian designated players came to a lot of fanfare – and with wage checks to match – halfway through the 2022 season. But they could not return the club to its former glory.
Toronto (4-10-5) is currently 13th in the 15th team Eastern Conference, four places and nine points under the play-off line and 26th General in the 30-team League. It has not made the play -offs since 2020, when it came across the first obstacle.
Bernardeschi earns us $ 6,295 million this season, which is in sixth place in MLS. Insigne earns you $ 15.4 million, the second only for US $ 20.5 million from Lionel Messi.
Bernardeschi’s contract runs until 2026 with option years up to and including 2028, while the Insigne deal runs up to and including June 2026 with an option for the rest of the year.
Their departure opens two designated player spots.
“The designated player strategy is a crucial part of the success of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer and the club will continue to priorize the short, medium and long-term strategy of TFC in the coming weeks,” added MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley.
The 31-year-old Bernardeschi scored 26 goals and added 22 assists in 99 performances in all competitions. An All-Star in 2024, he has four goals and four assists through 15 games this season.
Bernardeschi has not played since 24 May when he grabbed a fifth yellow card that earned him a suspension of one game. He missed the last three games with some Toronto coach Robin Fraser described as a “persistent” injury.
34-year-old Insigne has been the last two games. He did not get the bank in a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls and did not dress for Saturday’s 3-0 win over Portland.
At the time, Fraser said that the club wanted to give other players a chance.
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