Like a modern-day Don Corleone, Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko made Sebastian Giovinco an offer he couldn’t refuse last month.

Five years. Roughly $40 million. The keys to the city — and the club.

There were no phone calls from Drake.

The club’s top boss, Tim Leiweke, wasn’t with him just before the holidays.

It was Bezbatchenko, Giovinco and the Italian footballer’s family sitting around a dinner table.

“It was at a restaurant in Turin,” Bezbatchenko said in describing his final meeting with the 27-year-old before officially signing him on Monday. “The customary and traditional things you do at Italian meals were done and said.”

Leave Europe, take the cannoli — all while passing around bottles of wine?

“In some ways, yes. In other ways, no,” Bezbatchenko responded with a laugh.

“There was a lot of eye contact,” he added. “A lot of smiling. A lot of nodding.”

Nobody asked if Bezbatchenko was stroking a cat during the discussions.

What about the bill, did MLSE pay for it?

“I don’t remember,” Bezbatchenko said secretively.

Just as any self-respecting Soccer Don should.

At the time, the Reds were more or less competing against the five families of soccer — Arsenal, Tottenham, Fiorentina and Monaco included — for Giovinco’s signature.

Signing Giovinco was, at best, a long shot to most who were involved.

That is, other than club’s top brass, who continue to swing for the fences.

“Anything is possible now,” Bezbatchenko said of signing at Italian international in his prime.

“Anything is possible in this league if you help players to know what this league is about and where it’s going. I didn’t realize that until last year. We said this year, ‘We’re going to double down.’ ”

But Monday’s player reveal went beyond doubling down. It’s a signing that could change the complexion of not only Toronto FC, but the entire league.

In Giovinco, the Reds get a Champions League-calibre playmaker on the right side of 30 — someone who will undoubtedly move the needle in a city where European soccer currently takes precedence.

Barring a Jermain Defoe-like disruption, TFC could be in line for a big boost at the box office, too.

“Today marks an historic moment,” Bezbatchenko said. “Giovinco was being pursued by some of the top clubs around the world following his great career at Juventus. We are beyond excited to add a player of his calibre. We know the league office is as excited as we are.

“This will go down as an important moment in Major League Soccer.”

For now, though, Bezbatchenko remains one of the few from this side of the Atlantic who has sat face-to-face with the pint-sized playmaker, who wasn’t in attendance at Monday’s media event.

Instead, he recorded a message that was aired for the gaggle of reporters that turned up for the biggest player unveiling since David Beckham joined the L.A. Galaxy.

“Hello, Toronto and MLS,” Giovinco said. “I am excited to sign with Toronto FC and see you all this summer. Thank you for all your support.”

He’ll join head coach Greg Vanney’s side in July after wrapping the Seria A season this summer.

Until then, someone will have to keep his spot as Toronto FC’s withdrawn striker nice and warm.

Vanney made it clear that he expects Giovinco to play underneath Jozy Altidore, allowing Michael Bradley to play a bit deeper in midfield while affording the Italian the ability to play in between the lines.

“We had a short list of players who fit that mould,” Vanney said. “We looked at our Designated Players and made sure those players complement each other on the field and that they are the core for our team on the field.

“Michael will play a bit deeper in midfield with Giovinco connecting us to the attacking half. Then Jozy finishes things off for us.”

Skeptics of the move remain somewhat prevalent.

There are many still suffering from PTSD post-Defoe, who picked up and more or less abandoned Toronto FC midway through 2014.

“We learned what to do and what not do,” Bezbatchenko said. “Giovinco was willing to meet us halfway. Last time (with Defoe), we went out, picked our player and threw everything at him. This time, we made sure and said, ‘This is an important project. You have to want to do this, too.’ ”

Regardless, the risks remain. Giovinco didn’t visit Toronto prior to agreeing to terms and there’s always an adjustment period when high-profile players arrive from abroad.

The Reds can’t afford to get this wrong — not with a brand new stadium opening up and beyond-patient fans still waiting for the club’s first playoff berth.

Following Monday’s announcement, Vanney went as far as to guarantee the Reds will be successful in 2015 — a statement that will surely be played back if the club’s recent infusion of high-priced talent doesn’t do the job.

For now, however, the Reds are off-season champs for the second year running.

The club’s winter additions have once again made it the envy of MLS.

As we know, though, that doesn’t always translate to wins.

And if it doesn’t, the current management group will have a lot of questions to answer.

And someone, metaphorically speaking, could be swimming with the fishes.

SIZING UP THE ATOMIC ANT

Sebastian Giovinco likely won’t be able to see over the stacks of cash he’s set to earn.

Hence the Italian’s nickname, the “Atomic Ant.”

Toronto FC’s newest prized possession will go down — way down — as one of the shortest players in MLS history.

Giovinco, whom the Reds officially unveiled in a massive $35-million deal on Monday, stands just 5-foot-5 — not exactly the type of player you’d think is geared toward a more physical North American game.

“I don’t have any concerns,” TFC head coach Greg Vanney said. “Players of his size and calibre come with a lot of intelligence and awareness for what’s going on around them.

“We want to be an intelligent team — a thought-out team and an organized team.

“We want to open the gaps for him to play. I don’t have any concerns about whether he’ll succeed or the physicality of our league. He’s incredibly intelligent and incredibly quick.”

Vanney pointed out he played in L.A. with one of the all-time greats in Mauricio Cienfuegos, who stood just 5-foot-6.

Former TFC attacker Joao Plata is smaller than all of them.

The Ecuadoran, who is currently with Real Salt Lake, stands just 5-foot-2.