Lorenzo Insigne expresses his suffering because he continues to be ignored by the Italian national team: “Only in Italy those who go to play far away are excluded from the national team and it is not clear why”.
Lorenzo Insigne he just finished the season with Toronto FCunfortunately for him again early, without managing to reach the playoffs: the 33-year-old former Napoli captain since he landed in Canada in the summer of 2022 – together with Federico Bernardeschi – not only has he failed to bring the team back to glory of Giovinco’s epic (first Major League Soccer title won in history and final of the North American Champions League), but not even to reach the minimum result of the playoffs, in any of the three seasons. Between numerous injuries and inadequate performances, Insigne has ended up in the crosshairs of criticism from the media and fans, but he is unlikely to leave Toronto, given his rich contract which expires in 2026. For his part, the Neapolitan striker instead he dreams of returning to the national team, complaining of a prejudice according to which those like him, who play abroad, are no longer considered: “It only happens in Italy“.
The starting point of the reasoning is the consideration that the next World Cup will be played on the North American continent, between the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026: “There is already an atmosphere of anticipation, with billboards on the streets even though it is a year and a half away. Soccer in America is not yet followed like baseball, basketball, football. But the movement is growing and the driving force of the World Cup will be extraordinary. I hope that Italy can play at least one match in Toronto: in Canada there is a warm and large community of ours“.
Lorenzo Insigne has just finished his third season with Toronto: a failed project
Insigne’s lament, ignored by Spalletti: “Only in Italy those who go to play far away are excluded from the circle”
Then we move on to the issue that makes him suffer, the national team’s ostracism towards him. Insigne last played there on 24 March 2022, taking to the pitch as a starter in the semi-final of the play-offs for qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar against North Macedonia, a match painfully lost at the last minute: “I’ve been there for two years and I’m happy with the experience I’m having, but I do have one regret… Only in Italy those who go to play far away are excluded from the national team and it’s not clear why. The South Americans who are in Serie A can fly 13 hours each time, why aren’t we allowed to?“, is the complaint made to Repubblica.
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It is unlikely that Luciano Spalletti will consider him again for a call, also in light of Insigne’s performance in recent times: barring any surprises, Insigne should stick to his record of 10 goals and 10 assists in 54 appearances with the Italy shirt.
