(Football news) The 30 year Napoli and Italian forward Lorenzo Insigne has decided to join the MLS outfit Toronto FC for a five-and-a-half year contract till the end of December 2027, and is set to join them as a free agent when his Napoli contract expires at the end of this season. The deal is said to include a basic wage of €11m a season, with another €5m in potential add-ons, and will be signed and officially announced this week.
Lorenzo Insigne Insigne has spent the entirety of his professional career at Napoli (aside from three loan spells before becoming a first-team regular). In nine and a half seasons as a first-teamer, Insigne has made 415 appearances and scored 114 goals for Napoli. He is regarded as a Napoli legend but now will showcase his talent for the Canadian side in the MLS. This deal will indirectly become the biggest deal in MLS history and also he will overtake Carlos Vela as the highest paid player in the MLS. Toronto FC however, still officially has the maximum of three designated players in Jozy Altidore, Yeferson Soteldo and Alejandro Pozuelo. The future remains up in the air for both Altidore and Soteldo as they are offered to other clubs around the world. The Reds would need to make room before any Insigne deal could be made official.
Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has been quoted as saying Insigne’s future there “doesn’t depend on us.” The player and his hometown club, where he is out of contract at season’s end, are reportedly at an impasse over money. I’ve never forced anyone,” De Laurentiis added. “I let others democratically decide what is the best choice for their lives. If Insigne wants to stay, we are here to welcome him with open arms. Instead, if he thinks his journey in Naples is over, we’ll deal with it and accept his decision.”
Napoli, recently going through an injury crisis have signed young centre Axel Tunazebe on a 6 month loan from Manchester United for an estimated loan fee of 600K Euros. Tuanzebe’s stint at Aston Villa was fairly unimpressive and he failed to win over new boss Steven Gerrard, even though he insisted he wanted to keep him. The move to Napoli is a great opportunity for Tuanzebe to rejuvenate his career. Now 24, he needs a fresh start, having entered the season as fifth choice at Manchester United.
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A combination of misfortune with injuries and mixed displays, some outstanding, some poor, have made it tough for Tuanzebe to establish himself at Old Trafford. There is no such purchase option in Napoli’s loan deal for Tuanzebe, but considering the competition for places at United, if he is a success and plays regularly, a permanent move could suit all parties, with United getting the chance to cash in on a squad player.
