Sebastian Giovinco's signing with Toronto FC last week made headlines around the soccer world. And Italian national team boss, Antonio Conte says he would've made the same decision.
"What else should he have done?" Conte asked rhetorically in an interview with Italian sports daily Tuttosport. "In a few years players will elbow each other to go there. [MLS] will grow so much, and not just in terms of chatter.
"According to the latest surveys young Americans between six and 12 years old don't choose the traditional sports like basketball and football, but they pick soccer. If they [North America] go down that road, pretty soon there's going to be problems for everyone."
Conte coached the 5-foot-5 Giovinco at Juventus and thought highly enough of the attacker that he kept him at the club despite interest from other clubs around Europe. Now as head coach of the Italian national team "azzurri," he says that he will "keep an eye on him" for future call-ups.
Despite Giovinco's limited appearances for the reigning Serie A champions, Conte still summoned him for Italy's most recent friendly against Albania in November.
"Seba made an important economic decision – who gives you that kind of money?," Conte continued. "And he's not going there to pass the time because I know him. He's a good guy.
"It's an opportunity that as a soccer player I would've taken immediately. I never had the experience overseas and it's very formative."
