Sebastian Giovinco: An Overpaid Designated Player? Or MLS Value-for-Money?
Nominated this past week’s Major League Soccer player of the week, Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco draws a lot of attention, and naturally discussions about whether he is worth his $7 million salary. Still, there seems to be a consensus about one thing: the Atomic Ant’s brilliant performance.
June 5, 2015
Starting by who exactly is Sebastian Giovinco? The 28 year-old player from Turin, Italy, at a height of 5.5ft (1.64m) seems to be running around Toronto FC’s rivals and making the opposition’s defence look confused and clueless more often than not. He is a diligent player with exceptional vision of the game and great technical skills. Top that with creativity and the ability to foresee situations and create opportunities, and you receive nothing else but an explosive attacking player. In addition, Giovinco is a master of free kicks, and his versatility enables him to play in various attacking positions and formations.
Being small, quick to move and present all over the front, Sebastian Giovinco acquired the nickname “formica atomica” back in his days playing in Italy for Juventus. This, after Hanna-Barbera Atomic-Ant animated superhero character.
The Ant is known as a playmaker, as well as a goal scorer in his own right. He is small, can dribble well and control the ball. This combination of speed and control enables him to be highly mobile on the pitch and establish a position while controlling the ball and enabling his other teammates to assume positions. Although renowned for his variety of skill and ability to play in various positions, Giovinco usually plays as a second striker.
Giovinco joined the Juventus youth system at the age of 9, and played in various secondary teams until he turned 19, when he was then promoted to the first team in 2006. Although flourishing in the youth system, his tenure in Juventus’s first team was of mixed fortunes. Giovinco did give impressive performances when on the pitch. Still, he was not playing regularly as a starting player, and made random appearances throughout the season. At 2007-8 he was on loan to Empoli, and at 2010-12 to Parma. Giovinco returned to Juventus in 2012, and again despite many appearances and impressive performances, still player sporadically and throughout the seasons and never became one of the teams prominent fixtures. He also registered 21 appearances and 1 goal with the Italian National team between 2011 and 2014.
Giovnico During his Juventus Days
Image Source: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images Europe
On January 2015, Giovinco signed a 5-year contract with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Although the initial view was to finish with Juventus the Serie A season in July 2015, he was then released early and was able to start the season in March 2015 with his new club Toronto FC.
With a reported annual pay of $7 million, topped with marketing fees that will enable him to earn $8 million, Sebastian Giovinco is the highest-earning player in the MLS, and highest-earning Italian in all Soccer leagues.
To date, the Ant played as a starter in 11 MLS games with Toronto Football Club in the 2015 Major League Soccer Season. Within the total of 971 minutes played, Giovinco produced a total of 54 shots, of which 23 were shots on target. He scored 5 goals and produced 6 assists.
Starting with his first MLS goal against Chicago Fire in April 4th, 2 goals against FC Dallas in April 18th, 1 against Philadelphia Union in May 2nd, and his most recent against Portland Timbers in May 23rd.
Still, even in matches where Giovinco hasn’t scored any goals, he created many assists and when speaking of Toronto’s last match against San Jose Earthquakes, it would even be safe to say that the Ant’s efforts gave Toronto the impressive 3-1 win.
The Atomic Ant’s neck-breaking pace, game vision and fascinating creativity make Toronto FC one of the most interesting teams to watch in the MLS to date. Giovinco is not one of the designated players that Major League Soccer fears – the type of player that thinks he has nothing to prove, came to collect retirement money after a career in international leagues where players became greedy beyond imagination.
The Atomic Ant came to play, prove himself, and make a career in Major League Soccer. He is one of the hardest working players in the league. Is he worth $7 million in my opinion? I think the Ant is worth every penny!!
