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Report: Jozy Altidore drawing interest from Italy, France

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Jozy Altidore’s MLS stay has been largely successful, and it appears the U.S. Men’s National Team striker is drawing interest with regards to a European return.

ESPN is reporting that Altidore has drawn interest from a club in Italy’s Serie A as well as one in France’s Ligue 1. The Italian transfer window is open until Aug. 18, while France’s doesn’t close until the end of August.

Altidore is fresh off another trophy and another big-time final performance with Toronto FC as the forward scored three goals in the Canadian Championship final second leg. During his time with TFC, Altidore has won a Supporters’ Shield, MLS Cup and three Canadian titles while scoring 56 goals in 107 matches.

Before joining Toronto, Altidore played seven seasons in Europe with his best stint coming with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar. His travels also included time at Villarreal, Xerez, Hull City, Bursaspor and, ultimately, Sunderland, where he struggled prior to his TFC move.

Comments

  1. Club management, fans and coaches often view players differently and most of those clubs are not very successful. Unless the management which will have to lay out a lot of cash to land Jozy and the coach agree that Jozy is a player that will fit into a productive role for the team and the fans are willing to give him a chance, any move would be like the one to Sunderland. than not.

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  2. It is called, you are not worth $5mm but we want to keep you.

    AND I don’t want to not get paid $5 million any more.

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  3. but i think toronto has problems, i would suggest make a domestic move. mls is expanding, how about nashville or cincy? he will be properly appreciated by everyone (coaches, players) here in mls. here in mls, if will DEFINITELY play, should def get lots of service in the box. honestly afraid another euro move will just see him wasting away on a bench somewhere, really hate to see that happen to such a likeable player like jozy.

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  4. Except for his stent in Holland, his international moves – especially the move to Sunderland- have been mind-numbingly stupid. Hope it works out for him whatever he decides.

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  5. Before he went to Sunderland I wrote that he should go to a mid-table team in the Bundesliga since I thought their style of play best suited Altidore. Did he listen? No, he went to stupid sunderland. Back then I said that in the right situation he should consistently score about a dozen goals a year for his club. He would have been better off listening to me. If he moves again, DO NOT go to Italy. He will be much better off in France where he should do reasonably well as a consistent starter as long as it’s not a big club in France.

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  6. Interesting…. he’s getting paid well in Toronto so he’ll have that as a big consideration…. Also, he has Giovinco and actual service coming his way as a striker … He absolutely has to research that ahead if he considers a team or it can become Sunderland all over again

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  7. It’s complicated. He’s 28 so in theory he could compete for a new cycle. Or he could get bushwhacked by the new kids coming in. The right spot could help extend his NT career, or could be just a bench riding cash grab. I would say that TFC is probably the safest base for a NT spot. He will start there a few more years. But maybe he doesn’t care about the Nats or just wants to cash in. Or maybe this is to leverage TFC for money.

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    • If he goes, it won’t be a cash grab. He’s earning $5,000,000 at TFC, he’d have to take a pay cut to move to Europe. Which is why it won’t happen.

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  8. Its called the Silly Season for a reason. I’ll believe this one when I see it. On the other hand if he really is interested in fighting day in an day out to keep his spot on a Ligue 1 or Serie A team and actually proves it and makes it that would be fantastic, and even if he tries and fails at least he tried. He’s far too comfy at TFC. At 28 he not too old to actually do it but will be harder than if he was younger for sure.

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    • I can’t see the logic behind the move by either Euro team. Jozy didn’t play in the world cup, so its not like he has a recent performance on a big stage to be marketable. While he has the physicial qualities to be a physical beast, he really isn’t. He doesn’t perform well as a hold up forward. And, he breaks down with injury at least once a season.

      The only reason would be to increase US interest in the (unnamed) teams in question, which won’t go far because neither league is regularly televised on a wide-spread cable outlet. Sorry – I still do not count BEIN.

      If it works for him – at 28 – I am all for it. I just don’t get it.

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