Insigne wanted a new challenge in Toronto FC

says he moved to Toronto FC in Major League Soccer because he wanted a new challenge after spending his whole career with Napoli.

The Italy international agreed to join

Toronto

in January. He then played for Luciano Spalletti's

in Serie A and scored 11 goals in 32 games before moving to Canada.

Insigne scored 122 goals in 434 games for his home team, which is second only to Dries Mertens's 148 goals and is seven more than the late, great

Diego Maradona

scored for the Partenopei (115). At his first news conference in Toronto, Insigne shot down the idea that

MLS

was a step down for a player of his level.

When asked if he had been given any other options, Insigne said, "At that time, I didn't get any other offers." When I first met the president, it was very early, and I was still under contract with Napoli. I could have stayed in Europe. "I'm 31, so I still have a lot of life ahead of me, but I wanted to choose happiness and the well-being of my family.

"As I mentioned before, I won a lot with Napoli, and I lost as well. But I wanted a change and more importantly, a challenge, either in another European club or here in North America. I've heard people say that soccer in North America isn't real soccer, but I've seen it for myself and it's not true.

"It's hard because we're moving, but I'm grateful to the president and the whole organization for giving me this chance and for all the love and hard work they're putting into it. I'm very grateful, and I want to show them how much I appreciate them with my performances this season." Insigne joins a team that sits 11th in the Eastern Conference, but he is already targeting silverware.

"I'm so glad to be here. This is a big and new adventure for me and my family, this is the first time we have been away from Napoli," he said. "But it was a great choice, because when I first met the president, he talked to me about Toronto as a city and especially about the team.

"He struck me as a really great person, and the project that he explained to me about the team stuck with me. I made the decision, not for the money, but for a new life for my family and my kids, and for their wellbeing. The project is certainly a challenge, and I would like to be part of winning the championship.

"I played for Napoli for 10 years and for the Italian national team, winning the Euros. So, I don't have any problem with being under pressure, and I'd rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch."

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