Report: Andrea Pirlo “Accepts New York invite”
Having just David Villa and Frank Lampard on the same team apparently isn’t enough for New York City FC, as there has been an avalanche of rumors, first reported by Spanish outlet AS, that Italian midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo could be set to join the MLS team this summer after the Champions League final with Juventus.
The Italian is out of contract this summer, and has supposedly received an informal offer from Frank Lampard to come join him at Yankee Stadium. Pirlo, despite his age, is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, and would be an unprecedented coup for MLS as well as an indication of its ability to attract world class players to come and play.
@DiMarzio reports Andrea Pirlo is more and more tempted by @NYCFC but won't make a decision until after the #UCL Final
— Serie A News (@TransfersCalcio) June 3, 2015
If he was to sign as a DP, that would leave New York City with all three designated player spots filled. Of course, they would arguably hold the best DP’s in the league, each having long and storied careers with vast levels of experience and natural ability at their disposal.
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So exactly just how realistic would it be to see the one and only Andrea Pirlo grace the field in MLS?
Pretty realistic, especially if he wins the Champions League. He will have completed a long season, but a perfect treble having won the Coppa Italia and Serie A. Moving on to a new challenge would be the logical option, for somebody who will have accepted that their playing days cannot go on forever. If he doesn’t win, he might still go. This has been touted as he and Gianluigi Buffon’s last major final – so maybe he wants to end it on the biggest night in club football regardless of a win or loss.
He had been also linked with a possible move to the Premier League but I’m not sure this will happen. If he wanted to, he would have moved to the Premier League a long time ago and he is not a player who is overtly physical, his style of play is much more refined so may not want to take a chance on the bruising encounters with Stoke City on a cold, rainy midweek fixture, when he could be playing in much better conditions elsewhere!
However, he could “do a Lampard” and sign with Manchester City on loan until next season. He’d want to take the summer off to recuperate after this long season, and maybe then prepare for life in MLS just as Lampard did. Manchester City fans certainly wouldn’t complain about that arrangement.
Andrea Pirlo to NYCFC. This could be the DREAM 6 month loan spell to City a la Lampard. PLEASE.
— BlueMoonRising (@BMRising) June 3, 2015
It is already a long wait until the Champions League final, but if may feel even longer for New York fans to see what the decision is from the bearded Italian. They are hoping to have him as one of their own before too long.
If he does not go, then they will have to make do with Frank Lampard and David Villa. Tough times for New York City FC, huh?