Bernardeschi snubbed Gasperini for Toronto FC move: ‘80%’ about money

Bologna winger Federico Bernardeschi reveals Gian Piero Gasperini wanted to bring him to Atalanta in 2022 when he eventually joined Toronto FC from Juventus: ‘ I admit money influenced my decision for 80%.’

Bologna winger Bernardeschi released an interview with Gazzetta just a few days before the Rossoblu’s Europa League meeting with Roma in the Europa League Round of 16.

Bernardeschi returned to Serie A last summer after spending three years at Toronto FC.

Bernardeschi: ‘No easy games’ in Serie A

“I’ve found a different Serie A football; now even the smaller teams are more equipped; technology is helping everyone, and everyone is organised,” the Italian said.

“There’s never an easy game, at any level, from race for survival to Europe.”

The first leg between Roma and Bologna will be played at the Dall’Ara this coming Thursday, but the Giallorossi will be without Paulo Dybala, a former teammate of Bernardeschi at Juventus.

“I’m sorry for Paulo, I’d have been happy to challenge him, even if it’s always better not to play against his left foot,” admitted Bernardeschi.

“But I’ll be glad to see many Azzurri friends. When I joined Juventus, I asked if I could get the no. 10. They said I was too young and should have waited a year. Then Dybala took it, who was already in his third year. I would have preferred to face a foreign club, because, as an Italian, I’d have been happier to see two Italian teams go as far as possible.”

Bernardeschi’s move to Bologna raised eyebrows over the summer, with some in the media suggesting he was no longer suitable for Italian football after such a long spell in Canada.

Bernardeschi, on the other hand, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 32 appearances and has never had doubts about his ability to make an impact at the Dall’Ara.

“I know myself. I didn’t go to Canada to take a walk in the park,” he said.

“I put maximum commitment into everything I do, even if I admit money influenced my decision for 80%, and the remaining 20% was a life choice. I’ve always trained and cared for my body meticulously. I’ve learned from Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus how to be a professional in all aspects and be a great professional. In Bologna, I took a month to readjust. I suffered a knee injury and was forced to skip pre-season. But my physical figures were high in the MLS, and I knew I was competitive.”

Bernardeschi could have even played under Gasperini at Atalanta.

“He called me before moving to Toronto, and I was tempted, but then I made a different choice. I don’t regret it, but I would have loved to work with him; I knew I could add a piece to my career,” the winger concluded.

“Roma looked for me when I was at Juventus, but I said no. I was happy in Turin, and I still have a house there, where I’m Yildiz’s neighbour.”

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, March 10, 2026, page 24.