Reader mailbag: What's going on with TFC's Brandon Servania?

TFC Republic's reader mailbag column is where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.

I'll respond to the best queries submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.

Here we go... 

What did you make of Canada's recent international window? 

– Bob Slaughter 

There was a lot to like from the Canadian men's team in its recent matches against its two biggest regional rivals. 

The U.S. and Mexico remain the top two Concacaf teams in the FIFA world rankings, at No. 16 and No. 17, respectively. But make no mistake about it: Their tenure as the undisputed kings of the region is over. Canada has emerged as a genuine powerhouse in Concacaf, and a very credible argument can be made that it has overtaken the U.S. and Mexico as the top team in North America.  

Further evidence of this new shift in dynamics came during September's international window. Canada began the month with a 2-1 win over the U.S. in Kansas City last weekend, a scoreline that made it seem a lot closer than it was in actual fact. The Canadians dominated their neighbours to the south en route to earning their first win over the U.S. on American soil in 1957.  

Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, saw the traditional roles reversed between these rivals. In the old days, it was Canada who played negative football to try and thwart Mexico in a vain attempt to keep the game close. This time around, it was the Mexicans who looked to disrupt rather than create.  

"It's a compliment to the progress that we've made as a team that a team like Mexico comes into this match and that's their strategy," Canada coach Jesse Marsch said after the game. 

Like they did against the U.S., fringe players Ali Ahmed and Mathieu Choinière worked in concert with vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio to control the midfield. Both were committed to pressing the Mexicans in order to win the ball back. When they did, they used their full range of passing skills to play teammates into dangerous positions.  

Marsch has talked about the importance of expanding the player pool. The fact that he gave so much valuable playing time to Ahmed and Choinière, and the fact they both rose to the occasion, bodes well for Marsch in his quest to bolster the team's depth. Canada's coach also handed national team debuts to Hajduk Split's Niko Sigur, CF Montreal midfielder Nathan Saliba and Sporting Kansas City winger Stephen Afrifa, and gave a start to backup goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair vs. Mexico. 

Moïse Bombito and Derek Cornelius also further solidified themselves as Canada's new central defensive duo with a pair of very good performances against Mexico and the U.S. 

So, overall, the September window has to be classified as a big success for Marsch. 

What's the deal with Brandon Servania? Why hasn't he played since he's returned from injury? Do you think he'll be back in Toronto next year? 

– Martin C.  

Brandon Servania was acquired by Toronto just before the start of last season via a trade with FC Dallas in exchange for Jesús Jiménez and an international roster spot.   

The Alabama-born midfielder had a strong start to the campaign before dropping down the depth chart and eventually suffering an ACL injury during TFC's 4-0 loss away to Inter Miami on Sept. 20. That ended up ruling him out for the rest of the season.   

Servania, 25, had surgery to repair his left knee last fall. Since then, he went through rehabilitation and worked out on his own to get back to full fitness. Last month, he returned to full training with the Reds for the first time since the injury and came on as a second half substitute for TFC 2 away to Atlanta United 2 in MLS NEXT Pro on Aug. 11. 

He's been in John Herdman's matchday squad over the last few weeks but only as an unused substitute. You don't walk back into the lineup after an injury like that or after being out for so long. It takes time to work your fitness levels back to where they were before teams would even consider using you again. That's why Servania hasn't featured yet for the Reds even though he's been available for selection the past few weeks. 

As for Servania's future, the midfielder's contract with TFC expires at the end of this season, although the club has an option on him for next year.  

Servania has a goal and one assist in 31 games across all competitions for Toronto. His last match for the club was a year ago and he's coming off a major injury. The midfielder is earning $602,708 US this season – keep in mind that the MLS threshold for a DP player is $683,750. His wage packet means he's the ninth-highest paid player on Toronto's roster. 

Is Servania the ninth-best player on the team? No. Is he in the neighbourhood of being a DP? No. Has he provided value for his whopping salary cap hit? Not even close. 

TFC Republic asked Herdman why Servania didn't even dress for Saturday's home game against Austin FC. His answer was telling. 

"It was just squad rotation; I can only put 20 on the roster," Herdman replied. 

I think that tells you all you need to know about Servania's future. I can't see TFC picking up his option for next year. It's a bad contract that GM Jason Herandez would be wise to shed in the off-season in order to free up some valuable salary cap space. 

With the announcement of Federico Bernardeschi getting new representation, do you think this could be an early sign of him wanting out due to how the season is probably going to end up and how well he personally has performed?  

– T.T.   

Federico Bernardeschi announced this week that he changed representation and hired high-profile agent Roberto Calenda, who also represents Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, among others.  

Conventional wisdom suggests this could be one of two things. 

First, there's a chance that Bernardeschi changed agents because he wants to renegotiate his deal. The Italian DP is under contract to TFC through the end of the 2026 season, with option for 2027 and 2028. According to the Major League Soccer Player Association (MLSPA) website, Bernardeschi is earning $6,295,381 US, making him one of the highest-paid players in MLS.  

As much as Bernardeschi's play and attitude has improved this year compared to 2023, I can't see club management having any kind of an appetite to throw more money at him. Sources have told TFC Republic that MLSE is no longer keen on spending big on DP players like they used to in response to both Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne not exactly living up to expectations and their huge contracts. 

At age 30, Bernardeschi is also unlikely to get that rich of a contract at any European club. If he wants more money, he'd likely have to move to Saudi Arabia or somewhere else in the Middle East. 

Second, hiring a new agent could mean that he wants out of Toronto and to get out of his deal before it expires. Calenda has done this before with other players who have hired him, most recently orchestrating Osimhen's loan move from Napoli to Galatasaray. But GM Jason Hernandez has always said he doesn't want any player who genuinely doesn't want to be in Toronto – he worked something out with Matt Hedges last summer when the veteran centre back asked to be traded.  

So, if Bernardeschi wanted to leave TFC, my feeling is that the club would find a way to accommodate him. 

All of which is a long-winded way of saying that I don't read too much into Bernardeschi hiring Calenda. Players change agents all the time for a variety of reasons, mostly because they feel the relationship no longer works for them. 

(Top photo courtesy of Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)

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