Italy international Federico Bernardeschi ‘has been VAPING on planes and after practice’ in Toronto

It has been claimed that Toronto and Italy midfielder Federico Bernardeschi has been repeatedly reprimanded for vaping in the squad, after it emerged he had been ruled out of Saturday’s game against DC United.

Bernardeschi publicly criticized coach Bob Bradley after last weekend’s loss to Austin, saying the team “needs to (have) a little more tactics… (and) an idea of ​​how we play.”

Now, it has been reported in the athletic that Bernardeschi has been vaping on team flights and around his practice facility.

The publication adds that the incidents involving the 29-year-old midfielder, who is paid $6.3 million a year, have occurred despite being told multiple times to stop.

Italy international Bernardeschi, who has 39 caps to his name, is one of Toronto’s biggest names, having scored three times in 14 appearances so far this season.

Bernardeschi is out of Toronto’s match against DC United in Major League Soccer this Saturday

But it’s been a miserable season so far for Toronto, which sits last in the Eastern Conference and has had just 13 points in 14 games.

“We don’t play,” Bernardeschi said after Austin’s loss. ‘We played a long pass. We have no idea to play.

“I think this city, the fans, everyone, they don’t deserve this. And I think maybe we need to change something. We need a little more tactic.

‘We need an idea of ​​how we play, because this is the real problem for me. It’s impossible to play like this when we play without (an) idea.’

Speaking on Friday, Bradley revealed that the team is without Bernardeschi for Saturday’s game against Wayne Rooney’s DC United at BMO Field. United beat Toronto 3-2 on the opening day of the MLS season: Bernardeschi scored for Toronto.

“Coach’s decision,” Bradley said. Fede will not be in the squad for this match.

This week a lot has happened, a lot of internal discussions. So in terms of preparation for this match, the decision was made that way.

Earlier this week, Bradley criticized Bernardeschi for saying what he did when Toronto lost to Austin on a 90th-minute goal.

Bernardeschi has scored three goals for Toronto this season and the team has struggled

Toronto coach Bob Bradley was unimpressed by the Italy star’s comments last weekend.

“Fede was wrong to speak that way after the game,” Bradley told The Canadian Press.

‘It was a tough loss, a late goal after defending very well.

‘So he was wrong to speak that way after the game, 100 per cent. And now we have discussed it within the team. So (I) made it clear that that was out of line.

‘A lot of work is being done. The work of every day in a difficult period continues. So that’s where we are.