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MLSE Tim Leweke and GM Tim Bezbatchenko were determined to bring a star player to Toronto, by all means necessary. The Toronto Star's Cathal Kelly's piece of January 24 reveals Toronto FC's brass  intricate courtship of players the likes of Rolando Bianchi of Bologna FC, Alberto Gilardino of Genoa (as reported here earlier), Juventus' Fabio Quagliarella, Spurs' Jermain Defoe, and Roma's Michael Bradley. The backstage was more than a transactional exchange, rather it involved sipping wine made in a player's family-owned vineyard, negotiations with Gilardino and Quagliarella's agent while at a Toronto Maple Leafs game, flowers from Drake, and bumping into LeBron James.  The piece reveals that Toronto FC's first choice was Jermain Defoe, with Alberto Gilardino as their "backpocket".  Bradley's was an unplanned advent that happened almost over night: an opportunity seized by a Machiavellian Bezbatchenko. Sit down,

Toronto FC seems to have developed an obsession for Italian strikers. Well, maybe not an obsession per se , more of a partiality. A healthy one, one might add.  After the failed attempt (for now) at signing Alberto Gilardino , the Italian Job seemed to have vanished for good. This was ever truer with the signing of a marquee striker the likes of Jermaine Defoe.  However, appearances deceive. According to Gianluca Di Marzio , the reds are hot on the heels of Hellas Verona cultured striker Daniele Cacìa. A journeyman whose explosion in Serie A was stunted by two injuries at key times, Cacìa could prove to be a useful addition to TFC's strikeforce. The Reds are serious about the deal and have offered the Italian a 3 year deal. An offer to the club is yet to be made.  Cacìa has plied his trade in Serie B for the most part, collecting a respectable total of 98 goals, 22 assists in 271 appearances in all competitions (Serie B, Serie A, Italian Cup, and Europa League)

With Giuseppe Rossi injured until April, Michael Bradley sold to Toronto FC , the weekly round up of North American players in Serie A leaves only the "Canadian" Bryan Cristante.  Cristante was hardly the protagonist. In fact, he featured in a match that saw the explosion of Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi who was the first player to score four goals against AC Milan, ever.  A poor performance by AC Milan, but a decent performance by Cristante who started the game humbly, but made up for it, featuring in two of AC Milan's goals.  On the play that led to the led to Robinho's go-ahead goal, he recouped a ball in the midfield; and minutes later he took full advantage of an error by Sassuolo to provide an assist to Balotelli who slammed in the 2-0.  The rest of his performance, however, is marred in what seemed like a nightmare performance by the rossoneri , one that led to the eventual sacking of coach Massimiliano Allegri, and the advent of fan-favourite Cla

Catenaccio, North America is only two-and-a-half months old but has reached a few significant milestones over the last few days. First off, CatenaccioNa.blogspot.com , the little blog that could, broke the 2000 page views on January 10, 2014. Unique features like weekly roundup of North American players in Serie A and of Italian and former Serie A players in North America, Fan Club features, and weekly Italian Soccer TV schedule all have placed CatenaccioNA in a special niche on the web. Secondly our twitter account,  @CatenaccioNA , successfully surpassed the 90 follower mark, currently sitting at 94. CatenaccioNA is appreciative of every single follower, from the first followers who helped us achieve liftoff to those who sustained our growth. Thirdly, for those who don't know, CatenaccioNA blogger Rocco Fasano authors articles for www.ItalianFootballDaily.com  where he has surpassed the 100 article mark in just a month and a half at the website. And lastly, CatenaccioN

According to Sky Italy transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, AS Roma has accepted Toronto FC's €7 million offer for Michael Bradley. Michael Bradley thus moves from the giallorossi  to the Reds, where he will receive a $1 million salary for six years. Bradley returns to North America after plying his trade in Europe since 2006.

After signing Brazilians Gilberto and Jackson, and England international Jermaine Defoe, Toronto FC have set their sights on another Serie A player. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds have started negotiations with Roma for Michael Bradley and making an offer to the  giallorossi . Serie A seems to have become a preferred fishing ground for the Toronto outfit: this offer comes days after  Genoa's Alberto Gilardino declined the Canadian city indefinitely .  TFC's offer, however, is not the only one: Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg are interested in his services.  Bradley has 1 goal in 11 Serie A appearances for Roma this season.

New in 2014 is a weekly look at the performances of North Americans in Serie A, and of Italians and non-Italian former Serie A players in Major League Soccer . I mean, what kind of credible source on Serie A as experienced in North America would  Catenaccio  be if it didn't report on the weekly  slings and arrows  of our North American protagonists in Serie A? With the likes of Di Vaio, Henry, Paponi, and Ferrari off until March the task is rather easy since, after extensive research, I have found that there are only two North Americans who ply their trade in Italy's top tier league, and both are New Jersey-born: Giuseppe Rossi and Michael Bradley . However, being born in the same State is about all that these two have in common. Bradley is a born-in-Princeton, raised in the mid-west, son of well-known and well-respected coach Bob, sown and harvested in the US college system, all-American darling. And when the US national team call-up came his answer was a resounding

As I reported on www.ItalianFootballDaily.com Toronto FC's purs uit of Alberto Gilardino has come to a close with a simple "thank you, but no thank you". According to transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, "the Reds" pursued the 2006 World Cup champion for a  transfer to the North American city in the  summer 2014 since October. Gilardino, however, prefers options closer to home. In this perspective, Sunderland's recent interest in him and Borriello, and TFC securing the services of Germaine Defoe have indefinitely shut the door on the Italian striker's route to North America.  Gilardino has 9 goals and 1 assist in 19 appearances (all competitions) for Genoa this season.  

After a little taste today, Serie A lovers will get a full serving of soccer tomorrow. Will the befana bring your team treats or coal? Check out the TV listings for North America:

The Befana  comes one day early for Serie A lovers, offering up a delicious top table clash at the Juventus Stadium between the bianconeri and Roma. Here's how the TV schedule looks like for North American television on January 5: