Italy manager defends Giovinco omission, claims MLS matters less

Toronto FC star Sebastian Giovinco appears to have missed out on a call-up to the Italian national team simply because he plays in Major League Soccer.

At least that's what manager Giampiero Ventura alluded to when he attempted to explain the reigning MLS MVP's exclusion after naming his 21-man squad ahead of Italy's upcoming World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.

"Giovinco plays in a league that doesn't matter much," Ventura told reporters Monday, according to David Amoyal of ESPNFC.

Ventura added: "For two years I did everything I could to acquire him (while managing at Torino), I know everything about him. The problem is he plays in a league where the number of goals he scores matter less because his quality makes a difference there."

The Italian gaffer continued by criticising a specific aspect of Giovinco's game that he assumes is missing after insisting the 29-year-old is not interested in regaining possession of the ball as a result of playing in, what he describes as, a less competitive league.

Giovinco - who was controversially left off the MLS MVP shortlist this season - is coming off yet another brilliant season in Canada where he finished as the most productive player in MLS with 17 goals and 15 assists.

He followed an impressive regular season up with a sensational display in the playoffs where his hat trick Sunday against New York City FC helped Toronto earn a date with the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference final.