SAN JOSE, Calif. -- U.S. international and Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley said Toronto FC is going to miss departed star Sebastian Giovinco.
Giovinco's move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal was made official late Wednesday, ending a four-year stint with the Reds, a time that saw the Italian win the league's MVP award in 2015 and lead the team to a domestic Treble two years later. All told, Giovinco scored 83 goals in 143 league, playoff, and cup appearances with TFC.
"Obviously, [Giovinco] gave us so much for four years that he was in Toronto," Bradley told reporters following training with the U.S. on Thursday. "He was a guy that on the biggest days found ways to come through and make a difference. From that standpoint, we're going to miss him."
Bradley added that he'll miss the human qualities of Giovinco as well.
"I sent him a message last night that for as a good a player he is, he is that much better of a person, and the time we spent, the relationship that we built, the things that we accomplished, those things will stay with me forever," he said.
Bradley noted that "for different reasons," Giovinco decided to move on to a new club. Now, the Reds will need to carry on without the Italy international, starting in three weeks with games in the CONCACAF Champions League against Panamanian side Independiente.
"It's on us in Toronto to find the right ways to reload, to obviously understand that our team will be different, not just with Seba gone but with Victor Vasquez gone as well," said Bradley.
"But that's football. The game doesn't stop for anybody, so we'll keep going and be ready to give everything to get ourselves back going in a real way this year."