Lorenzo Insigne returns to lineup, has assist, Toronto FC still lose | OneFootball

Lorenzo Insigne received a surprise start for Toronto FC Saturday night, played all 90 minutes and even contributed an assist on the sequence leading to Deandre Kerr's 70th-minute equalizer.

And yet after all that, the Reds were still handed another defeat, this time 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls after Emil Forsberg completed his brace in the 76th minute.

Robin Fraser's drastic shift to start Insigne, after he did not even make the matchday squad for Toronto's first four matches, could represent yet another shift in the saga of the talented but at times turbulent Italian star.

Why say goodbye?

This winter, Toronto appeared ready to try and move Insigne back to Europe after two-and-a-half seasons that were rife with drama off the field and absent of results on it.

But so far Toronto hasn't received an offer that both the club and the player have been willing to accept. And after Toronto went winless through four matches to begin their first season under Fraser, the Italian suddenly appeared on the field alongside compatriot Federico Bernardeschi in a 5-3-2.

Insigne had a guaranteed compensation of $15.4 million last season, according to figures provided by the MLS Players Association.

That was the second-highest annual income in the league at the time behind only Inter Miami's Lionel Mess, who had about $20.4 million in guaranteed compensation. And it's likely been the sticking point making any potential move exceedingly more difficult.

So now the question may be whether Fraser can integrate him back into the squad to positive effect. And overall, it was probably more good than harm, including the give-and-go he played with Derrick Etienne Jr. to set up the service to Kerr.

The big picture

The former Euro 2020 winner with the Italian national team made a highly publicized move to Canada in the summer of 2022, drawing a close to a decorated career at Napoli.

In MLS, he now has 14 goals and 15 assists in 54 previous appearances, having been limited last year because of injuries, and in the 2023 season in part because of friction with former manager Bob Bradley. He made his previous last start on Sept. 18, and last scored on June 15 during a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Fire.

While Insigne may bring pedigree to the front line, Toronto's bigger issues this season have come at the defensive end, where the Reds have conceded 12 times through their first five matches entering.