Giovinco's agent 'surprised' by Italy manager's MLS criticism

Giampiero Ventura's reasoning for leaving Toronto FC star Sebastian Giovinco off the Italian national team has led the forward's agent to question the manager's competence.

The Italy gaffer had cited Major League Soccer's inferior stature - compared to European leagues - as his primary reason for leaving the 29-year-old Giovinco off the country's roster for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein, and Tuesday's friendly with Germany.

Giovcinco's agent, Andrea D'Amico, admitted he was surprised by Ventura's reasoning, claiming the Italian had been misinformed.

"I was surprised by what Ventura said," D'Amico told tuttomercatoweb, according to ESPNFC's translation. "I think that without knowledge, you cannot be competent.

"The national team coach and his staff are obliged to go and see all Italian players in action, no matter what league they are playing in or the country they are in."

Giovinco led MLS in production this past season - registering 17 goals and 14 assists - and has added four more goals in Toronto FC's first three playoff matches. D'Amico said those numbers should be considered, as should Italian production in other, lower-level leagues.

"All I can say is that numbers say everything for a forward and Sebastian is scoring a lot, much more than his Italian compatriots," D'Amico said. "MLS is a league full of top quality players and it is really growing, just like I also feel the Russian Premier League, where Domenico Criscito and Salvatore Bocchetti (also excluded from Italy's squad this time around) play, is also competitive.

"They both have a great deal of international experience and they are proving themselves once again at the highest levels this year. Let's not forget that it was Zenit (St Petersburg) with Criscito who knocked Ventura's Torino out of the Europa League."