Toronto FC is getting Italian midfielder Sebastian Giovinco sooner than expected.
An MLSE source confirmed to Sportsnet that Toronto has come to an agreement with Serie A club Juventus that would allow Govinco to join TFC in time the start of the 2015 Major League Soccer season.
Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko announced the signing of Giovinco on Jan. 19. He said at the time the Italian playmaker wouldn’t be able to come to MLS until July once his current Juventus contract expired.
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Bezbatchenko claimed in recent days that he hadn’t spoken with Juventus, but Giovinco and his agent had been in talks with the Turin-based club in recent weeks about terminating his contract.
News of Giovinco ending his tenure with Juventus was first reported by Italian journalists Gianluca Di Marzio and Romeo Agresti earlier on Friday.
Toronto coach Greg Vanney was asked by reporters at Friday’s team practice about Giovinco joining TFC in February, but he declined to confirm anything.
TFC opened its training camp earlier this week. On Sunday, the team travels to Florida where it will continue pre-season camp for another week.
The Reds begin the regular season on March 7, away to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
