Andrea Pirlo signs for New York City FC

AFP, NEW YORK: Italian great Andrea Pirlo announced his move to New York City FC on Monday and new teammates Frank Lampard and David Villa welcomed him to Major League Soccer’s hottest club.
Pirlo, a 36-year-old midfielder, enjoyed star turns at AC Milan, where he won two Champions League titles, and for the past four seasons at Juventus, where he won four Serie A crowns and lost in this year’s Champions League final. He also starred in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph.
“Bienvenido Maestro,” tweeted Spanish striker Villa.
“What a signing! Welcome to the club Andrea Pirlo!” said England’s Lampard on Facebook.
Lampard, a 37-year-old midfielder, and Villa, a 33-year-old forward, join Pirlo in bringing star power to a club co-owned by English Premier League side Manchester City and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees.
It’s a star trio that football fans in New York have not seen since the 1970s heyday of the New York Cosmos, when Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia were among the players who gave the sport its first major US spark.
“I’ve been wanting this experience for a long time and now that the opportunity materialized I wanted to take it,” Pirlo said in comments on the club website. “This is a club on the rise and shares my same hunger to achieve important results in the league. I am hoping to win.
NYCFC, who play in the famed Yankee Stadium, have won just five times and picked up just 20 points in 18 matches in the current MLS campaign, but they have won four of their past five league matches and will hope to get a boost from Lampard’s arrival last week and Pirlo’s now.

Andrea Pirlo signs for New York City FC

AFP, NEW YORK: Italian great Andrea Pirlo announced his move to New York City FC on Monday and new teammates Frank Lampard and David Villa welcomed him to Major League Soccers hottest club. Pirlo, a 36-year-old midfielder, enjoyed star turns at AC Milan, where he won two Champions League titles, and for the past four seasons at Juventus, where he won four Serie A crowns and lost in this years Champions League final. He also starred in Italys 2006 World Cup triumph. Bienvenido Maestro, tweeted Spanish striker Villa. What a signing! Welcome to the club Andrea Pirlo! said Englands Lampard on Facebook. Lampard, a 37-year-old midfielder, and Villa, a 33-year-old forward, join Pirlo in bringing star power to a club co-owned by English Premier League side Manchester City and Major League Baseballs New York Yankees. Its a star trio that football fans in New York have not seen since the 1970s heyday of the New York Cosmos, when Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia were among the players who gave the sport its first major US spark. Ive been wanting this experience for a long time and now that the opportunity materialized I wanted to take it, Pirlo said in comments on the club website. This is a club on the rise and shares my same hunger to achieve important results in the league. I am hoping to win. NYCFC, who play in the famed Yankee Stadium, have won just five times and picked up just 20 points in 18 matches in the current MLS campaign, but they have won four of their past five league matches and will hope to get a boost from Lampards arrival last week and Pirlos now.