Sebastian Giovinco has unloaded on former team Toronto FC after they sold him to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal FC.

The former Italian international has proven to be one of the best overseas signings by a MLS franchise, spending four seasons in Canada and scoring 83 goals with 64 assists.

Signing from Juventus in 2015, Giovinco won the MVP award for his first season in the league as well as the Golden Boot and Newcomer of the Year prizes. The 32-year-old forward was named to the All-Star team in each of the four seasons he led the line for Toronto.

But a change in general manager had altered the team's stance towards their best player, with Ali Curtis replacing longtime GM Tim Bezbatchenko, who became president of Columbus Crew.

And it was this which Giovinco cited as part of long, strongly worded statement released via his Instagram account.

"As I have always maintained, I was hoping to renew my contract and finish my playing career in a city that feels like home," Giovinco wrote.

"It is here where my daughter was born and where my son took his first steps on a football pitch. A place my family loves to live and wanted to call home for good. Unfortunately, this desire of ours has clashed with a change in direction with current TFC management. For the 2 years I have been seeking to extend my contract however management was reluctant. Recently, after refusing to exercise the club option for 2020, I was offered terms that I deemed unacceptable.