TORONTO — Spanish playmaker Alejandro Pozuelo, a former league MVP, is on the move as Toronto FC continues its demolition and rebuilding.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced, confirmed that the 30-year-old is heading to Inter Miami CF. The source said Toronto would receive assets in return — reportedly a modest amount of distribution money — but not a player.
Pozuelo, who won MLS MVP honors in 2020, is out of contract with Toronto this summer. At $4.69 million this year, he is the fourth-highest paid player in MLS, according to numbers released in April by the MLS Players Association.
Pozuello’s departure opens up a certain player slot for Toronto, with the MLS club rumored to have Italy international Federico Bernardeschi, a winger/attacking midfielder, in their sights.
Bernardeschi, 28, has spent the last five seasons with Juventus, winning three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italias and two Italian Super Cups. His contract with the legendary Italian club is expiring.
TFC already have two Italians in waiting, with Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito eligible to make their debuts at the start of the second MLS transfer window on Thursday. Toronto (5-10-3) hosts the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
Toronto’s other two DPs are Mexican defender Carlos Salcedo and Insigne. Salcedo has recently been sidelined by a family matter, so he may want to return to Mexico.
Although Pozuelo was Toronto’s most creative player, he struggled at times to find his role under new coach Bob Bradley, who wanted the Spaniard to handle defensive duties as well as attack.
But Pozuelo seems to have been given a freer offensive role in recent games, popping up all over the pitch as Bradley looked for a more fluid attack. Pozuelo has four goals in his last five games in all competitions.
Pozuelo made his 100th appearance for Toronto in all competitions on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to visiting Seattle.
Once again, Pozuelo was Toronto’s best attacking threat. He led the team with 117 touches, completed 91.8 percent of his passes and was roughed up by Sounders players on more than a few occasions.
Toronto acquired Pozuelo in March 2019 from Belgian side KRS Genk as a designated player. In four seasons with TFC, he has 26 goals and 31 assists in the league.
At his best, he was the straw that stirred the drink in Toronto, with great court vision and the ability to unlock defenses with his passing. The Spaniard can also finish on his own.
Pozuelo won MLS MVP honors in 2020, helping Toronto to the league’s second-best overall record during the pandemic-shortened season. Pozuelo tied for the MLS lead in assists with 10 while finishing eighth in goals with nine in 23 games. He was the league leader in combined goals and assists (19), chances created (70) and game-winning goals (5).
Pozuelo was the only Toronto player to start every game this season, ranking ninth in the league in minutes played (2,015 minutes), missing just 55 regular season minutes.
Injuries limited him to 19 appearances in 2021 with one goal and four assists. Pozuelo, a father of three, also cited personal issues off the field that made last season difficult.
Pozuelo, who has four goals and five assists in 16 league games this season, said he wants to stay in Toronto. Bradley. who acts as the club’s sporting director, has chosen not to talk about the status of Pozuelo’s contract.
Toronto, which finished second-to-last in the then-27-team league last season at 6-18-10, saw 20 first-team players move on in the offseason.
Bradley used a lot of young talent in the first half of this season, with mixed results. There were good and bad things on the pitch, with the feeling that he was waiting for the summer transfer window to inject more talent and experience.
Add Comment