Pirlo linked to NYCFC, would fill third designated player slot

On Wednesday, Spanish paper AS are reporting that New York City FC have reached an agreement with Italian legend Andrea Pirlo. Pirlo is currently preparing for the Champions League final with Juventus, but will be out of contract at the end of this season, and has shown interest in a move to the United States before.

In all truthfulness, this has little impact on the New York Cosmos, as I've never heard them linked to Pirlo, and with Marcos Senna still going strong, the club has little need for what Pirlo brings to the table. Frankly, I'm not certain that NYCFC has a need for the player, either, as the current midfield group at Yankee Stadium would seem to be poor compliments to Pirlo's skillset, offering very little defensive protection so that the Italian could focus on creating.

Regardless, should the AS report be correct, Pirlo's signing definitely won't be completed in time for the match at Hofstra, which will be played on June 17th. The new MLS side will also be without Frank Lampard, who won't be joining his new side until July.

There could be a bit of benefit here for the Cosmos, however, as the Juventus man would require the use on New York's third designated player slot. As things currently stand in MLS, that would put them at the limit, reducing the competition for big names in New York to just the Cosmos and the Red Bulls. In that regard, this could be very pleasant news for Gio Savarese's side.