Insigne Toronto ‘fantastic’ but not for football, Verratti and Pescara waited for me | OneFootball

Lorenzo Insigne says his experience in Toronto was ‘fantastic’ but only off the pitch and reveals Marco Verratti told him Pescara would ‘wait’ to sign him until the end of the winter transfer window.

Italian winger Insigne joined Serie B strugglers Pescara as a free agent in the winter transfer window.

The Euro 2020 Italy winner had been without a club since the summer of 2025, when he terminated his contract with Toronto FC.

“From a footballing point of view, things didn’t go the way I wanted,” Insigne told Gazzetta.

“As a life experience, it was fantastic. We came back with my kids, and they really missed their friends and their school in Toronto.

“I expected a different kind of football, and I had a few physical issues, so they never saw the real Lorenzo Insigne. We weren’t good at building a competitive team, and of course, the blame fell on me, since I was the highest-paid player. But anyone would have made the same choice.

“After 12 years, it was right to change, maybe not so far away, but anyway. I don’t blame anyone, but leaving wasn’t easy.”

Insigne was long linked with Lazio and Fiorentina before his move to Pescara, where he had already played at the start of his career in 2011-12, contributing to a historic promotion to Serie A.

“The problem was my physical condition. I trained on my own for five or six months, and nobody wanted to take the risk,” he said.

“I understand them. But I knew it wouldn’t take much for me to get going again. I always believed in it.”

Insigne played with Verratti at Pescara in 2011-12, and the Italian midfielder is now the co-owner of the Serie B side.

“He [Verratti] told me: ‘We’ll wait for you until the last day of the transfer window.’ They never questioned my condition, and I don’t think about the standings,” Insigne said.

“Other Serie B teams approached me, but in this league, I would only have come to Pescara. I wanted to close the circle after 14 years. It wasn’t difficult to settle in; now we need to pull off this miracle.”

Lorenzo Insigne at the Stadio Adriadico after returning to Pescara (@PescaraCalcio via X)

Pescara sit at the bottom of the Serie B table with 25 points, but safety is just five points away with nine games remaining.

The Abruzzo-based club has won three of their last five league games, and Insigne has scored two goals in his first four matches this season.

The third notable representative of the 2011-12 Pescara squad was Ciro Immobile, who might be offered a chance to return to the club next summer.

PESCARA, ITALY – MAY 12: Lorenzo Insigne of Pescara celebrates with Marco Verratti and Ciro Immobile after scoring the opening goal during the Serie B match between Pescara Calcio and Torino FC at Adriatico Stadium on May 12, 2012 in Pescara, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

“In January, he was in Bologna and on his way to Paris,” Insigne concluded.

“If we stay up, I’ll for him next season. It won’t take much to convince him, just like it didn’t with me.”