Crazyrebel(l)s ist umgezogen! » Bieksa said after practice at

It will go down as a landmark moment for Major League Soccer. Toronto FC has signed Italian International attacking midfielder/striker Sebastian Giovinco. The marquee signing was officially announced on Monday. Sources say Giovinco, 27, will join Toronto FC on a four-year contract worth $7 million USD annually. It is expected Giovinco will stay with Juventus in Italy until July, although the exact timing of his move has not been confirmed. It is believed that a multi-million dollar transfer fee will be paid for the player. Giovinco has represented Italy 21 times, featuring most recently in a 1-0 win over Albania on November 18. The 55 attacking player, known as the Atomic Ant, has impressive footwork, superior work-rate and genuine talent to star in MLS. Giovinco is a play-maker and natural set-piece taker, scoring one of his two goals last week off a free kick in a 6-1 Juventus win over Verona to advance to quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. Opportunities have been rare this season under manager Massimiliano Allegri, starting only two games. Giovincos desire to feature made it clear his future lay elsewhere with his contract up in the summer. A number of European teams were rumoured to be after Giovinco; a target for many in the January transfer window. He is a player who has excelled when given the chance. Giovinco scored a team best 15 goals and added 11 assists in 2011-12 while on loan at Parma. His signature is an absolute coup for Toronto, reportedly beating the likes of Monaco and a number of Serie A and Premier League teams in the chase. Giovincos agent spent some time in Toronto and was impressed by the city and set-up. It is believed the North American adventure is something Giovinco craved and the opportunity to become a star in MLS beckons. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment were confident in recent days an agreement was reached between club and player, with the signing not official until the last 48 hours. The franchise believes they have done due diligence with the player, educating the newcomer on the significant travel and nuances of MLS that make it difficult for some to adapt. Giovinco is said to undaunted by the challenge and excited by the move. The spotlight he covets and the ability to shine are there for the taking. The signing of Giovinco is culmination of weeks of work for Toronto FC. The plan was always to replace the out-going Jermain Defoe with two players of significance. Toronto FC has done just that this week with the arrival of US National team striker Jozy Altidore Friday, and now Giovinco. Toronto FC has gone above and beyond in establishing a new core for the present and the future. MLS has always been a league reliant on attracting marquee names in the twilight of their careers. A player like Giovinco is exactly what MLS had in mind in allowing Designated Players; attacking players in their prime, appealing to both the casual and devoted soccer fan. The move screams credibility. MLS is said to be very happy with Toronto FCs capture. The move for Toronto FC is another statement of intent. The pomp and circumstance of previous big name transfers will not come with this; rather the focus should be on substance. Toronto FC now has a core of three Designated Players in Giovinco, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore all in their 20s (27, 27, 25). This core is capable of staying together for the foreseeable future, establishing the kind of consistency Toronto FC has desperately lacked. MLSE firmly believes in soccer as a growth property, with a $105 million dollar stadium expansion further evidence to the upside. Toronto FCs squad will continue to take shape in the coming days. The biggest question mark is what happens with Gilberto. The acquisition of Giovinco means Toronto FC will have four Designated Players on the books; only three are allowed in MLS. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement is being negotiated at present time. There has been little indication that adding a fourth Designated Player is priority. If the idea is tabled in negotiations, it makes sense for Toronto FC would support such an initiative. It is believed Toronto FC still thinks highly of the Brazilian striker. The chance to add Altidore and Giovinco were opportunities too good to pass up on. Its consensus across MLS there would be a trade market for Gilberto. The 25-year-old improved as the season wore on, scoring seven goals in 28 MLS appearances. MLS requires Gilberto to be off Torontos roster before the first game of the season. Gareth Wheeler can be reached at: @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Air Max Dk . Blown save in the ninth inning? No problem. Nike Air Max Tilbud . Samir Nasris 88th-minute equalizer at Etihad Stadium will be of little consolation to City, which is now six points behind league leader Liverpool and four points behind second-place Chelsea. Third-place City has a game in hand but the surprise result against Sunderland, coupled with Sundays 3-2 loss at Liverpool, may be a setback too far in its bid for a second championship in three seasons. http://www.airmaxdanmark.com/ . Cabrera-Bello shot a 1-over-par 73 and was caught by Webster, who carded 70 at Doha Golf Club for three-round totals of 12-under 204. They were only one stroke ahead of Adrien Saddier of France, the biggest mover with six birdies in his opening seven holes in a round of 64, South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmarks Thorbjorn Olesen (68) on a packed leaderboard. Nike Air Max Udsalg .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard. Nike Air Max Danmark Billig .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart.Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer gets the call in net as Canada opens up its World Championship group stage play on Friday against France. You can catch the action live on TSN at 9:30am et/6:30am pt. Coach Dave Tippett says he made the call of Reimer over Edmonton Oilers goalie Ben Scrivens, Reimers former teammate, strictly due to seniority. Its expected that both goalies will split time at the tournament in Belarus with Scrivens likely seeing action in Canadas next game on Saturday against Slovakia. Reimer last played for Canada at the 2011 World Championships in Slovakia, posting a 4-0 record in the group stage. Jonathan Bernier, now Reimers teammate with the Leafs, was preferred for Canadas quarterfinal game and dropped a 2-1 decision to Russia. This is Scrivenss first time representing Canada at any level. Meanwhile, Kevin Bieksa was named Team Canadas captain on Thursday. Coach Dave Tippett said Bieksa got the nod because hes outgoing but also plays hard and with passion. Jason Chimera is one alternate because he brings the experience of winning at this tournament before and Kyle Turris is the other because he bridges young and old on the roster. One thing Canadas leadership group has in common is a love for keeping things light on the ice. Thats part of what Bieksa thinks his role is, but he also expects his teammates to take the tournament seriously. "Just to keep guys loose having fun and then focused for the games," the Vancouver Canucks defenceman said. "Everybodys coming over here for a purpose. We didnt fly all this way just to have a good time. We flew here to win games and to continue on the standard that Canada set at the Olympics. Were going to come to compete." At 32, Bieksa is the fourth-oldest player on the team, younger than only Chimera (35), Joel Ward (33) and Alex Burrows (32). There are also a handful of very young players, including Nathan MacKinnon (18), Sean Monahan (19), Jonathan Huberdeau (20), and Mark Scheifele (21). Bieksa is in charge of helping meld this diverse group together. "Its been pretty seamless so far. Everybody brings something to the table," Bieksa said after practice at Chizhovka-Arena. "The young guys are young and (add) a new perspective and energy and the older guys, theres some guys that have played in this tournament a few times and they know what to expect and you lean on them for some advice. Its a good mix." Chimera is Canadas only player with an IIHF World Hockey Championship gold medal, won in 2007 in Moscow. His message to a lot of his teammates is that they never know when theyll be able to wear the Maple Leaf again. That could be true of Chimera, too, and if it is the Washington Capitals winger is making sure he enjoys it. Even with two children at home, his wife was supportive of him coming to Minsk to play in his third world championship. "Hockey keeps you young," said Chimera, whos 4 1/2 years too young to be able to play without a visor. "Its just awesome, you see these young kids, how talented they are, they keep it light.dddddddddddd. A lot of them were pretty nervous coming over here, but I try to keep it as light as possible." Thursdays first practice in Minsk following an exhibition game against Switzerland in Zurich was light but up-tempo. Tippett and assistants Paul Maurice and Peter DeBoer had plenty of teaching to do a day before Canada opens the tournament against France. James Reimer will start against France, while Ben Scrivens is set to start against Slovakia on Saturday night. "It goes solely off seniority," Tippett said. "Scrivens was upset because he thought he shouldve got the call because he had 19 seconds longer than Reimer the other day (in the exhibition game)." Reimer is playing at the world championships for the second time after going 4-0-0 in 2011 before being replaced by now-Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Jonathan Bernier. With Scrivens -- whos now with the Edmonton Oilers -- on board this time, Reimer is sharing the net with a former teammate. Come the start of the 2014-15 NHL season, he very well could have another goaltending partner if the Leafs trade the restricted free agent. Reimers season in Toronto didnt go as he planned, and its only natural for him to think scouts and general managers will be watching him in Minsk. "I assume so. I think theyre scouting everyone," Reimer said. "I think everyones taking a peek at whoever might have a contract up or might not, thats what theyre here to do. Any time youre playing, especially in a different situation, theyre watching to see how you react and respond. But in every NHL game theres scouts and GMs watching, too. Its just one of those things wherever youre playing competitively, people will be watching." Theres plenty for Tippett to watch for early in this tournament that could affect his plan going forward. On Thursday he kept the top line of Burrows, Turris and MacKinnon together from Tuesdays exhibition game and tinkered elsewhere. Nazem Kadri centred Cody Hodgson and Troy Brouwer, while Philadelphia Flyers teammates Brayden Schenn and Matt Read skated with Huberdeau. Chimera and Capitals teammate Ward remained together, and Tippett said hell keep an eye on having either Scheifele or Monahan between them. Because this tournament is such a "scramble" with so little preparation time, Tippett is just trying to get create some chemistry before the first puck drop. "Youve got to get your players in roles early," he said. "Always subject to change, but I think one of the most important factors of a tournament like this is you try to get everybody in their spots as quick as you can." That starts with establishing Bieksa as captain. Burrows voiced support for that choice because his Canucks teammate is good at bringing people together. "He keeps it fun, he likes to have a good time," Burrows said. "But at the same time when its time to work and do the right things, hes the first one to lead the way." 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