TFC still seeking resolution to Lorenzo Insigne situation

Lorenzo Insigne’s future at Toronto FC has been a hot topic of discussion ever since the end of the 2024 MLS campaign when the club said all options would be on the table regarding the Italian.

But barring an about-face by the MLS outfit, it sounds as though Insigne has played his last match for TFC, even though he’s under contract through June 2026.

While speaking to reporters via Zoom from Florida on Thursday afternoon, coach Robin Fraser confirmed that Insigne is back in Toronto, which means he won’t play in the team’s season opener away to D.C. United on Saturday. 

Fraser deflected during the media availability when asked by TFC Republic if Insigne is even in his plans for this coming season, while also revealing that the club is trying to resolve the situation with the Italian.

“I mean, I really can't say too much about it. I think a lot of what is transpiring predates my even coming here. So, I would say that there's not a whole lot I can say about that. I think that it's a situation for which we are seeking some resolution,” Fraser replied.

What a resolution might look like remains to be seen.

TFC Republic reported back in November that the club was actively trying to move out Insigne after he suffered through another lacklustre campaign in 2024 in which he scored just four goals in 23 league games. GM Jason Hernandez recently revealed that discussions continued with Insigne and his representatives about his future with TFC. 

According to a recent report from Tom Bogert, Toronto presented Insigne the option to join a top-flight club in either Italy, Spain or Turkey, with the added bonus of buying him out at a rate that would see him receive a significant portion of the money remaining on his contract. Insigne was the second-highest paid player in MLS last year (behind Lionel Messi), earning $15.4 million US. Bogert reported that Insigne turned down all three options.

Where does that leave things?

Toronto could completely buy out Lorenzo from his contract, which would mean it would open up a designated player slot and free up some valuable salary cap room – as a DP, Insigne’s salary cap hit for this season is $743,750 US. But that’s a very steep price to pay for MLSE when you consider how much money the Italian is owed on his remaining contract.

The two sides could also come to a mutual agreement to part ways if Insigne agreed to take less money. But in this instance, the Reds would not get any salary cap relief or free up a DP slot until his contract expired.

Insigne was not part of Fraser's starting lineups in TFC's first two pre-season games, so it would appear the team is drawing a line in the sand with the Italian — accept a move or mutual contract termination or be benched.

Any transfer move would likely have to wait until the summer if he wanted to join a club in Europe. Insigne could be sold or traded to another MLS team before the league's primary transfer window closes in April, but that seems unlikely at this point.

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Whatever might happen, it sounds like TFC are preparing for life without Insigne.

“Certainly, that is the guidance of the group and I would say that not much really has changed. I know there's been a lot of speculation in the last seven to 14 days. But again, that's not really for me to comment on, and it's just really [for me] to try to put together as good a team as possible,” Fraser said.

Captain Jonathan Osorio also declined to offer a substantive statement when asked by TFC Republic about the Insigne situation, only saying that it “hasn’t been a distraction at all” amongst the players. 

“What's happening is between Lorenzo and the club, and it's really not my place, or any other players’ place to speak on it,” Osorio offered.

Insigne suffered through another lacklustre and injury-prone campaign in 2024 in which he scored just four goals in 23 league games. In total, the Italian has 18 goals and 13 assists in 63 appearances in all competitions for TFC since coming to MLS in the summer of 2022.

(Top photo courtesy of Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)

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