After Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich reportedly refused to sanction a year’s extension on the soon to be 36-year-olds contract with Chelsea the Sunday Times is reporting that he has already agreed terms to join new Manchester City MLS franchise New York City FC.
As if that new was not big enough for the newest MLS team Atletico Madrid striker David Villa was spotted in Manchester yesterday undergoing a medical at Bridgewater Hospital in Moss Side according to the Manchester Evening News.
Manchester City refused to comment on the Villa sighting which everyone assumes is for City’s American MLS team with the former Barcelona striker set to become their marquee signing.
The signing of such a high profile player like Villa will have a rippling effect across the MLS with other teams realising that City is not just coming to play, but playing to win.
The 32-year-old Villa will be jetting off to join his Spanish teammates ahead of their opening match against Holland on June 14th.
When speaking about the MLS club City chairman said: “Very soon you will be hearing about our first signing for our club in New York and it will be a very pleasant surprise I hope for our fans.
“This is a very exciting project we have embarked on. We have a wonderful team of individuals over there that is being set up, led by Tim [Pernetti], our CEO. We have a great coach in Jason [Kreis],” he added.
“This will be another story of organic development. This is a club that is in a wonderful city, with a great fan base. I love how the fans selected our crest. It is a wonderful story and I think it is going to be a great success story. I am very excited about next year.”
