Juventus Legend Andrea Pirlo Reportedly Moving to NYCFC
The highly decorated midfielder, who plays for Serie A side Juventus, and also the fourth-most capped player in the history of Italy’s national team, will reportedly be joining Frank Lampard, David Villa, Mix Diskerud and the rest of the New York City Football Club crew this summer, in time for the next Major League Soccer season.
June 3, 2015
The 36 year-old Juventus Star has yet to comment on his move to the MLS, and is now in preparation for the UEFA Champions League match in Berlin this Saturday (May 6th), where his team Juventus will face Barcelona.
Pirlo is a much-needed addition to struggling Major League Soccer expansion team NYCFC, which currently sits in the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference division, having earned only 8 points in 13 MLS season appearances. This, with 1 win, 7 losses and 5 ties – far from the high expectations created by the Manchester/Melbourne City younger sibling.
Although Andrea Pirlo’s skillset and position does not immediately fit NYCFC’s needs, it can still be of great benefit to the struggling team. Striker David Villa has a great difficulty to create goal-scoring opportunities while being alone at the front, attacking midfielder Mix Diskerud for now seems too busy trying to connect the midfield to the front, as well as back, and cannot seem to be everywhere all the time.
Frank Lampard that will arrive can possibly play a front midfield position and assist Pirlo in creating goal-scoring opportunities that will be capitalized by the other two, and by Lampard himself.
New York City Football Club’s defense still remains the most vulnerable area for the team, but it is even possible that Andrea Pirlo’s presence and leadership in the lower midfield will bring some badly-needed organization to NYCFC’s back as well.
Juventus’ midfielder Andrea Pirlo (L) fights for the ball with Fiorentina’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Fiorentina on April 29, 2015 at the “Juventus Stadium” in Turin. AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLOMARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images
Pirlo is seen in Italy as no less than a football legend, and is considered one of the best midfielders in the world. He is known as a player that is very technical, and one who brings enormous creativity and ability to create deep-laying plays within centre midfield. Andrea Pirlo is viewed as more of a defensive midfielder, playing in the back of the midfield, where he is able to run the ball for longer periods of time that will enable his teammates up front to position themselves, and for him to read the formation and create and execute a play accordingly. Pirlo is known to create for his team many goal-scoring chances because of his ball control, sharp vision and exceptional skill in passing long balls.
As his Juventus teammate, and a legend in his own right, Italy Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said on Pirlo’s 2011 arrival to Juventus: “When he (Pirlo) told me he is coming to Juventus, first thought that came to mind was: “God exists”. I think that bringing a player of his level and ability was the signing of the century!”
Playing his early years in Brescia and helping them get promoted from Serie B to Serie A, he was signed by Inter Milan in 1998 and played on and off (was on loan to Reggina and Brescia) until 2001.
Pilo was then sold to Inter’s arch-rivals Milan, and played there for 10 years, with a total of 401 appearances and 41 goals.
He was then transferred to Juventus at 2011 and has been playing there until now, with a total of 163 appearances and 72 goals.
Pirlo also marked 113 appearances, and scored 13 goals with Italy’s national team.
