The highly anticipated debut of Lorenzo Insigne with Toronto FC will have to wait another two weeks, as the Italian forward deals with a calf strain.
Badge, 31, reached a deal with Toronto FC in January to join the club once the Serie A season was completed. He played 11 seasons with Napoli, which finished third in the league standings this past season.
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The Reds were expected to debut Insigne on Saturday in a home game against the San Jose Earthquakes. After a minor injury in practice with his new club, he is now expected to miss the next three games and is targeting a debut with the club on July 23 at home against Charlotte FC.
« In the periods now where he’s been on the field there’s been discomfort and so he’s been taken off the field, » Toronto FC head coach Bob Bradley said after Wednesday’s training.
« My guess is that it is going to take a few weeks to get him ready. I think a realistic target is going to be July 23. That’s not official. There’s always hope that things can move faster. »
In 337 Serie A league games with Napoli, the Naples, Italy, native scored 96 goals. He has added 10 goals in 54 games with Italy’s national team.
Insigne’s four-year deal through 2026 with Toronto FC as a designated player officially began Friday. He reportedly will make $15 million per season.
Toronto is finalizing a deal to send former MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo to Inter Miami CF in exchange for $150,000 in allocation money, a source has confirmed to ESPN.
The trade has been linked to another transaction, that of Toronto acquiring Italy international Federico Bernardeschi, who is available on a free transfer after his contract with Italian Serie A side Juventus expired.
Reuters contributed to this report.
