With a fresh new contract signed and speculation regarding his future now behind him, Jonathan Osorio is ready to focus on the future with Toronto FC.
The 30-year-old midfielder – who was part of Canada‘s World Cup roster this winter – was briefly available as a free agent after his previous TFC contract expired.
90min understands that multiple Europa League-level clubs have expressed an interest in signing Osorio over the past 18 months, while multiple MLS clubs also considered an approach. The player himself has never made any secret in the past of his aspirations to test himself in Europe.
But rather than seek new surroundings, Osorio recently re-signed with Toronto on a deal through the 2025 MLS season, partly through a desire to repay the club’s loyalty by helping them return to the MLS Cup Playoffs following two years in the wilderness.
“I think the way the last two years had gone, it would’ve been a little bit sour leaving the club in that way,” Osorio told reporters. “I think I’m excited for what’s to come in the future of this club. For me, it felt like this was my destiny. No matter what I wanted or whatever was presenting itself, it felt like it was my destiny to stay here at Toronto.”
Toronto may not have hit the heights over the past two years, but Osorio remembers much better days at BMO Field. The midfielder is a veteran of three MLS Cup finals, winning one in 2017, and three Canadian Championships – alongside the 2017 Supporters’ Shield and a 2018 Concacaf Champions League final appearance.
If any club is primed to bounce back in 2023, it’s Toronto, who are armed with Italy international forwards Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi and a host of emerging young talent.
Despite two lean years, optimism is high.
“Winning here, not just from myself, from other players telling me: There’s pretty much no feeling like it,” he said. “I think that’s a big part of how the fans make you feel as well as the people working within the club, within the walls of Toronto FC, how they make the players feel, how they make them feel comfortable. They help with settling in with their families and everything. It’s a big family club.
“It’s a club that’s very ambitious. They’re always trying to win and as a player, what more do you want? You play to win trophies, and so for me to play for Toronto FC is a big privilege. It’s a big responsibility as well.”
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