By FRANCO PANIZO
New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis said earlier this week that he intends to have three Designated Players on his team when it starts playing in MLS next year.
We now know who one of them might be.
According to a report from the Telegraph, NYCFC are looking into the possibility of making star Barcelona midfielder Xavi their marquee signing ahead of the 2015 MLS season. Xavi will 35 years-old by then and will have one year remaining on his Barcelona contract, but officials from Premiership side Manchester City, which partly own NYCFC, have reportedly expressed a strong interest in acquiring the Spanish national team midfielder for the MLS club.
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano know Xavi from their days at Barcelona and see him as the perfect player to help NYCFC make a splash in their inaugural MLS season.
It is believed that Barcelona would allow Xavi to leave on a free transfer next year if he made it clear he wanted to join NYCFC. Xavi currently earns an estimated $11.49 million.
A World Cup and Champions League winner, Xavi is considered one of the best midfielders in soccer today. He is technically-gifted, smooth on the ball and deadly accurate with his passing.
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What do you think of NYCFC targeting Xavi? Hope they land him? Would you prefer to see them signing someone younger?
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