Sources: Bernardeschi to land in Toronto, finalize Toronto FC agreement Friday

Federico Bernardeschi’s Toronto FC journey is about to begin.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Bernardeschi will be arriving in Toronto on Friday afternoon, shortly after 3 pm ET, where he’s expected to finalize his agreement to join Toronto FC on a free contract from Juventus.

Speaking to media on Friday, head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley confirmed talks between the Italian international and the club had taken place and that the team was close to finalizing an agreement with the player.

“The discussion with him about the football and what we are working to do – all positive,” said Bradley from the BMO Training Grounds. “He came across in a good way. A lot of people have been working hard, so hopefully it’s almost there.”

Asked if a decision, one way or another, was imminent, Bradley replied: “I would think so. Obviously, I know that he loves football which means he wants to get going, one way or another.”

RELATED: Sources: Toronto FC to trade Alejandro Pozuelo to Inter Miami, sign Italian international Federico Bernardeschi

According to multiple sources, a verbal agreement between the club and Bernardeschi had been reached prior to Toronto trading 2020 MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo to Inter Miami CF on July 7.

Bernardeschi travelled to Toronto a while back and met with TFC brass to discuss the potential move, something Bradley confirmed on Friday.

“There was a discussion where he was here and we had a chance to talk football,” explained Bradley. “The way we play, his experiences, it was good. You can always tell when a player is really engaged, if he loves to train, if he loves the game, so in those ways he came across in a great way. I really enjoyed the time we spent.

“A lot has been put into it, and until things are final, all you can say is that getting to know him a little bit was positive.”

Bernardeschi will occupy a designated player spot, according to sources. Toronto still have one vacant spot remaining following the mutual termination of defender Carlos Salcedo’s contract last week. There’s a sense that the team will be aggressive and try to fill that spot this window with many players overseas out of contract.

“To make a really good team, there’s a lot to do still,” said Bradley. “When we make a move and bring Mark-Anthony Kaye here that’s a start, and of course Lorenzo and Mimmo, so then that changes the group a little bit. We’ll see what else is possible in this period and have the rest of the season to push and grow and then we’ll be ready when the season’s over and look at ourselves in a hard way and where we go next.”

Bernardeschi, who could be announced as a Toronto FC player as soon as Friday afternoon, will join fellow Italians Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito in Toronto and could potentially be in line to make his debut, along with Insigne, on July 23 vs. Charlotte FC.

Bradley confirmed that the timeline for Insigne’s potential debut is still next weekend for Charlotte FC and that the Italian star will join the team for full training at some point next week.

Bernardeschi struggled with Juventus last season, scoring just twice in 36 appearances in all competitions. The winger joined the Old Lady in July 2017, signing from Fiorentina in a deal worth €40 million. In five seasons since, Bernardeschi has made 183 appearances, scoring 12 times and adding 24 assists.

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