Toronto Star Reveals Juicy Backstory of TFC's Pursuit of Defoe, Bradley...and Why Gilardino Fell Through



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, make yourself a cappuccino and enjoy Kelly's piece and all its juicy backstage details: http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/01/24/toronto_fcs_transformation_was_colourful_journey_led_by_tim_leiweke_kelly.html 



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