TORONTO - Sometimes it pays making a list.
In announcing the signing of Italian star winger Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC president Bill Manning said the hunt to acquire the Napoli captain started last summer out of concern at the struggling MLS club’s direction.
Knowing team owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment had a board meeting in September and having seen the local interest in Italy’s run to the European championship, he started researching possible player targets.
“I actually went to the Transfermarkt website and I looked up the Italian national team on what players were coming out of contract,” Manning told reporters Saturday.