CSL takes aim at Toronto’s top gun

Italy international Sebastian Giovinco has received “concrete proposals” from two Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs, Italian media reported on Tuesday.

G io vin co, who will be 30 on Thursday, was the second highest earner in North America’s Major League Soccer (MLS) last year, receiving more than $7 million from Toronto FC.

“The figures mentioned are far beyond Sebastian’s current wages and that’s an issue because the career of a professional player is not that long,” agent Andrea D’Amico told Mediaset Premium television, according to the Football Italia website.

However, a Toronto spokesman said the club had not been contacted by any Chinese teams.

Former Chelsea, Glasgow Celtic and Scotland defender Craig Burley has advised Giovinco and his agent to drop the China talk.

“If you’re that good, go and play somewhere proper,” Burley said on ESPN.

“Go and see if you can get a game in Italy again where you couldn’t get a game before coming to Major League Soccer.

“Never mind all this China nonsense. He’s getting paid well enough at Toronto to play against players who are nowhere in the same league.”

Striker Giovinco was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in his first season with Toronto in 2015.

The Turin native, who has won over 20 caps for his country, moved to the MLS two years ago from hometown club Juventus in a fiveyear deal.