By FRANCO PANIZO
Alessandro Del Piero could be the next big name to hit MLS.
According to several reports out of Australia and Europe in recent days, Del Piero looks set for a move to MLS after holding talks with the LA Galaxy and D.C. United. The 39-year-old Italian has been a free agent since leaving Sydney FC last week and is reportedly keen on continuing his distinguished playing career.
Del Piero, a 2006 World Cup winner with Italy, spent the past two seasons with Sydney FC in Australia’s A-League. Prior to that, he spent 19 years at Italian powerhouse Juventus after beginning his career at Padova. He has 91 caps to his name with Italy.
It is unclear whether Del Piero would demand a Designated Player salary.
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What do you think of Del Piero possibly coming to MLS? Hoping a move transpires or would you prefer to see him go elsewhere given his age? Which MLS club do you see him being a natural fit on?
Share your thoughts below.
If you want a a 35 year old + Italian striker, just bring over LUCA TONI for like 2-3 million a year
we need to tell the world MLS is no longer a retirement league. our DP’s will either perform on the field or sell a ton of seats.
in fact why don’t we bring over Balotelli. 10 million a year can bring him over and tons of people would watch him play or just bring over Ronaldo. he’s 29. wait a year or 2 and get him over for 20 million a year. that will make MLS a top league in under a decade
Del Piero would be awesome for MLS….if it was 2008
This is awesome! First the NASL came back. Then the Cosmos came back. Now the strategy of using over-paid, geriatric South Americans and Europeans to sell tickets in our top pro league is back. Can’t wait to watch the next Soccer Bowl on the Ocho!
Oh, it’s 2014 not 1974…disregard. This is stupid.
It is pretty cool that all of those things are coming back now that you mention it. As long as they are side shows to the quality that mls has, bring it on.
Heskey – nuff said……
“nuff said”? Not unless you actually want to be understood.
You mean “not IF you actually want to be understood.”
Don’t worry, I understood. 😉
I go to bed in Emile Heskey pajamas.
I’m sorry Alan… I couldn’t fit into the Michael Owen pajamas you gave me. But the point was well taken.
Who cares if he’s old? He’s famous and people will pay to watch famous players regardless of how good.
who will pay?
I can give some leads.
He played well for Sydney (and I do wish he was coming back for one more for them), but he also (at this point) is old, slow, and constantly hurt. Think C. (not even going to try and spell it) Blanco his last year in MLS. Magic with the ball still and would easily score some great goals and make an offense better. Was obviously frustrated with his teammates ability level at times, so this could be an issue. Plays no defence (unless the man is right next to him) and really shows no interest in doing so. If you’ve got a roster that can handle being a man down while defending and you could get him for a decent price, I think he’s still got enough left for 1 season. A team like DC, who could use a splashy signing and has nothing to lose this year would be a good landing spot for him. But definitely caveat emptor as he has missed A LOT of games with injury this year.
Too old. Will probably be injured half the season. I hope he doesn’t get big money because it will make our league look like crap.
This is going to end just like Juninho Pernambucano.
This.
Pass please.
doubt it is for DP money because Adidas has been behind this whole thing. they are going to pay him via sponsorship deals similar to Beckham, if i had to guess. not nearly at the same level, but enough that would allow him to accept non-DP money.
“has made an approach for the Italian forward in conjunction with major sponsor, Adidas.”
He has a skill set that ages well, but… he’s 39. He’s going to adjust to the distances, turf fields and summer weather? Not going to hold my breath for this being that successful
Minus the turf, he’s been doing this the last 2 seasons…and has been hurt a lot. That would be my worry if I were to sign him. The ability is still there.
39? Gross. No thanks.
Is this match.com?
No way. 5 years ago he would have still been too old.
the australian league is basically on USL level
we don’t need him. we need LUCA TONI. offer him 2 million a year and we can get him or better yet
pay balotelli 12 million a year and he’ll come to MLS.
Del Piero was starting at Juventus literally 2 years ago.
It’s not just lower level, it’s wide open Dutch style ball where he might get tackled some but nothing like here.
I think he might be an interesting cog for the right team…..LA. Him tablesetting for Keane, Donovan, whoever’s around. But then that team is getting old and the risk would be everyone falls apart and the team goes nowhere. He could play someplace else and be a poor man’s Schelotto but I don’t think he’s got the fuel in the tank or durability to take an average side anywhere.
What about Cosmos?
Leadership is more valuable than any skills he brings to the table. DC could really use that, as could more than a few teams. 39 is a bit old to be thinking of finding a new team though.
I considered DC, but really I am looking for “better guys that have more quality on the ball.”
That was cold.
However, Mr. DP, RSL isn’t interested.
Good move on Del Piero’s part. Give him a few years to develop then he will be in Russia for the next world-cup.
according to some here, MLS is a better league than EPL or bundesliga, so maybe he should try there if no MLS teams want him.
He needs Champions League Football.
And we can give it to him… Sort of.l.. I think he will enjoy lining up alongside Jack McBean on a rainy Wednesday in El Salvador.
You’re clearly delusional.
Guess I called in sick that day/missed those posts. I’ve literally never seen anyone anywhere that claimed MLS was better than the EPL or Bundesliga.
I watched him play in few A-league games. Meh. Still has some moments, but he won’t be a difference maker. I suppose a few more people will be able to say they saw him play.
He’s better than me, and I lit up MLS in 2010 after featuring in the Australian League.
Didn’t you already retire danny?
someone out there will sign him to sell tickets.
He’s scoring at a 50% rate for a midfielder in a decent league.
Is the A-League all that decent? I’ve watched some games on Fox Soccer Plus, and I’m not impressed. I’d say it’s a step down from MLS.
It’s a presistent fiction among some folks who like to run down MLS tha the A-League is better. Yeah… nope. Watched some. not buying that.
Who actually thinks this? People who haven’t watched the A-League?
Trolls, MLS haters, Eurosnobs, a few delusional Aussies.
That’s it, that’s the entire list of people who think the A-League is better than MLS.
I’d like to meet someone who fits all four criteria. I bet he’d be hilarious.
His name is Larry, and he’s TERRIBLE.
+1 to KGB
Don’t care, don’t want him. Don’t even think about it, nycfc!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
DE PIRLO IS TOO OLD F[OR MAJOR SOCCER
I told you I couldn’t do it on my own.
His strike rate in Australia was pretty good 48 (24) according to wiki. Still glad NYRB is not the team in discussion with him though.
He won’t be setting the league back if he plays well. That said, he’s going to be hard-pressed to find a team willing to throw DP money at a 39 year old.
Haven’t seen him play in years. How is his form? We all know what he used to offer. Sublime player…. in his day.
Is he still playing at a high level to offer something to MLS? If not, it is setting the league back, in my opinion.
+1. Unless they are getting him cheap
He played well in Australia but he didn’t play a ton of games, and it’s a lower level. So I think he’s a one and done type player at best with Juninho potential also. Your positive scenario is Djorkaeff with the same downside for year 2 if you sign him that long. And you’d have to cover for him defensively. Also bears noting that Australia doesn’t have the same physicality as here so I expect durability to be tested. We won’t give him the star treatment, he will get knocked around and we’ll see if he’s strong or brittle.
OMG who needs that sh*t!