TFC boss Vanney won't rule out Giovinco return: 'Never say never'

Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney fueled rumors linking Sebastian Giovinco with a return to the club, telling TSN's Kristian Jack on Thursday, "Never say never."

"I loved having him here," Vanney said. "I wish he was still here. But that's football. That's career paths and if it works again someday, I'd look forward to it, because I enjoyed my time working with him. He's a consummate professional and, obviously, supremely talented."

TFC sold Giovinco to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in January 2019, right as the final year of his contract kicked in. Giovinco said he was hoping to renew terms with TFC in a statement on Instagram, but he called out management for its lack of transparency and claimed the club was focusing on things "other than the pure desire to win."

Giovinco was back in Toronto in May to watch TFC at BMO Field, and in June, president Bill Manning admitted the team had missed his "production." The Reds ended up reaching the MLS Cup final in November, losing to the Seattle Sounders.

TFC managed to free up a Designated Player spot by re-signing Michael Bradley to a team-friendly deal. But Major League Soccer is reportedly discussing changes to the DP rule that could limit teams' spending power on players over the age of 23.

"I don't think it's just so easy as whether we want Sebastian or he wants to come back or all that," Vanney added. "I think there's a lot more to it."

Giovinco is TFC's all-time leading scorer with 83 goals in all competitions. He joined the club in 2015 from Juventus and won the MLS MVP award the same year. He led TFC to the 2017 MLS Cup, the crowning achievement of their historic treble-winning campaign.