By FRANCO PANIZO
For the LA Galaxy, life without Landon Donovan could translate into life with Andrea Pirlo.
According to a report from ESPNFC.com, the Galaxy are trying to determine whether to submit a bid for Pirlo during the upcoming winter transfer window.
The Galaxy want the 35-year-old Juventus playmaker and Italian legend to join them as a Designated Player ahead of the 2015 MLS campaign, which will be the first following Donovan’s impending retirement. It is unclear if Pirlo will be willing to make a move halfway through the Serie A season.
Pirlo’s current deal runs through 2016, and he said in August that he would spend two more years playing in his native land before possibly finishing out his career in MLS.
The Galaxy have been trying in recent months to find a player that can help make up for the loss of the legendary Donovan. LA tried to line up a move for Sacha Kljestan, but nothing materialized before the end of the recent summer transfer window.
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What do you think of the Galaxy’s interest in Pirlo? Would he be a good fit at the club and in the league, or is his age too much of a concern? If not Pirlo, who should LA target as a potential third DP?
Share your thoughts below.
Although I love Pirlo as a player, I think the Galaxy would be better off spending that 5-10 a year on a younger or less established DP for about 2-3 million and using the rest the build depth for a run in CCL. I’m sick of MLS signing old stars to sell jerseys. I want to watch the next up and coming stars not retirees collecting a pension thru MLS. Signing stars to DP contracts who are 30-32 like Beckham, Keane, Henry and Jones makes sense but signing a 35-38 year old to a huge contract relative to the rest of the roster is asinine.
Temporary fix, but a damn fun one to watch. Could see him for 2 seasons max, possibly a reload with he and Keane going. I’m pretty sure Keane wouldn’t mind him serving it up and I can’t help but picture what Zardes would do with that kind of juicy service. Juninho would have to run hi A$$ off even more than he already does.
They need to get their next DP like they got Beckham. Look around the big name clubs for a good player that has fallen out of favor with his club and then open up the wallet. I’m not saying it would happen but the ideal scenario would be for, say, Arjen Robben to have a falling out with Pep and then the LAG come in willing to take the “problem” off his hands during the transfer window. Something like that happens every year in January.
Huge Juve fan here.. Not a chance he leaves this season. He signed a new 2 year deal this summer and is still vital for dictating the way they play and creating chances. He also has decided to come back to the national team. Him leaving for MLS doesn’t help his azzurri chances. Maybe in 2016 but no sooner.
By 2016 he’ll be 37 and look 93. No thanks. Now or never.
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
to CPTKevin and his “Designated Players that Didn’t Make an Impact”
You have to amongst the dumbest, most ignorant, uneducated soccer fans in all of the world to compare that list of players to Pirlo who is arguably one of the top 30 players in the World in the last 30 years.
Its Pirlo, his pinky toe has more skill then 75% of the league.
Your an idiot dude.
You’re*. But yes I agree.
How dare you Galaxy! I would be very impressed if he came. I know he doesn’t seem to age, but if you do get him, please opt for a two your contract at most.
well given Juve still want him, i’m okay with LA getting him.
That’s actually a decent point. If he’s under contract thru 2016, but opts to join LA in 2015, are we really getting a retiree or are we poaching a player?
exactly. this isn’t Del Piero who was looking for ANYTHING he could get. this is a guy starting for a strong Juve squad.
There’s always a place for a guy with Pirlo’s skill in this league.
Wtf galaxy, ronaldinho could of been there.
Is Ronaldinho the only old, washed up player you think its valuable to MLS?
Meh. He’s old and so is Pirlo. If given the choice, I’d take Pirlo.
Let it go. Sincerely.
It seems to me like Pirlo is more of a Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who at 35 was slow and out of shape, but was MLS best XI in 2008, and also the MLS All-star game MVP that year. He then went on to clinch Mexico’s place in the 2010 World Cup, where he scored against France in that amazing game. Followed by winning the Copa MX with Dorados in 2012, at the age of 39, scoring 12 goals in 40 games for the club.
To mention Pirlo among the likes of Mista, Denilson, Boyd, Geovanni, and Castillo is utterly shocking and inerudite.
Agreed. And I can definitely see Pirlo becoming an icon like Blanco is an icon for the Fire.
Terrible idea. This seems like someone just trying to dig up headlines. Love Pirlo, but c’mon, Galaxy don’t need a 35 y/o guy that flat our says he’ll come to MLS only when he’s ready to retire. PirLOL – go spend some money on a younger up and coming talent not an over the hill footballer about to retire.
Pirlo doesn’t do push-ups; he does Earth-downs.
You know who I would LOVE to see playing in MLS?
Brian Ruiz from Costa Rica
Yes, Bryan Ruiz would be a great addition for the Galaxy, and hee has plenty of leggs, Pirlo is legend and nothing more at this time. Had an illustrious carrier but is in the past.
JosephNSantos
The problem with losing Donovan is that he is not only the best MLS player of all time, he has also been the long term face of the Galaxy (The Galaxy have had Cobi Jones and/or Landon Donovan for every year the club has played). Most of the players who can match his ability on the field, are being paid a ton of money in Europe. Most of those players would only come to MLS when they are nearing retirement (Like Pirlo). You can market that player for a couple years, but then they are gone. To get a player who can replace Donovan on the field AND off, is going to be nearly impossible for the Galaxy. Normally I would say this would be a good signing, but in light of Donovan leaving, it isn’t good enough.
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
This is a good point. Galaxy need to find a young player with great upside who is willing to pledge his future to LA. Who?
You’re absolutely right, White. And good observation about Cobi/Landon being there since day 1 of the Galaxy. One of the reasons I’d be against Pirlo joining is because such a move lacks foresight. LA needs a franchise player. They have that in Keane, I believe, but Keano only has another year or two after LD leaves. In all honestly, LA cannot truly replace Donovan. They can only sign ad hoc guys like Pirlo.
Remember that time Beckham left our retirement league to go play in the UCL? Or when Henry kept going on loan to Arsenal? Or when…
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
Stop posting the same dumb comment over and over!
While we’re speaking of memory: I don’t remember Beckham or Henry being 35+ in the scenarios you just mentioned.
So Pirlo said he would possibly want to join the league at 37? WTF …. does he think he can show up with a bathrobe and crocs?
He could definitely pull it off and still deliver a better ball than 95% of the holding midfielders in mls
just another name to add to the “Designated Players that Didn’t Make an Impact” list… remember these DP’s???
Mista (Toronto FC)
Denilson (Dallas)
Boyd (Portland)
Geovanni (San Jose)
Castillo (Chicago)
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
Stinky Pete, your copy/paste privileges have been revoked.
Those guys always sucked. Mentioning Mathias and Marquez would have made more sense.
+1. Cherry picking the worst DP’s is easy to do but doesn’t prove a whole lot other than “mistakes happen”. The guys on this list were all terribly overrated to begin with. Pirlo has a glittering resume and has already embarrassed at least one team (Milan) that concluded he was finished.
Having said that, this is a painfully difficult case, particularly as an LAG fan. Pirlo is an exceptional player but I’m not entirely convinced he is the type of guy the Galaxy should be looking to bring in right now. It’s gonna be reboot time out here, and Pirlo can’t have more than 1-2 years of influence left. He is nothing like a “straight swap” for Donovan so you can’t just plug him in and say “problem solved”.
Tough, tough call. I’m actually surprised LA interests him…. he’s never left Italy as a pro and doesn’t seem like the “LA Type”…. but it’s not like I know the guy– I do see he’s recently divorced so perhaps we can fix him up with an insane sociopath gold-digger. There are a couple of Kardashians coming on the market soon, arent’ there (always)?
Is he black? If not then he has no chance!
LOL PIRLO IS NOT NERY CASTILLO HAHAHAH
Possibly my favorite footballer ever! Pirlo is pure class.
Worst move ever especially after Lampard. These guys are late 30’s. They won’t sell that many shirts or seats as Henry/Beckham have.
come on
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
They’re mid-30s, but I think both guys contribute to MLS’ reputation as a retirement league.
But, it is Pirlo…
You mean Lampard, as in the guy who just scored against Chelsea? Yeah, why would anyone want him. As Henry is showing this year, age isn’t really the relevant question in the mid-30s. Its desire to play and stay fit combined with lack of injuries that effect what they are good at doing on the field.
Lampard will be close to 37 when he starts. I guess you call that mid 30s, felt more like late 30s when I was there.
Mid-to-late, ok. Point remains the same. If the player has heart, is fit, and isn’t injured, age itself should only be a concern in the length of the contract. Lampard would easily be one of MLS’s best mids now.
MLS = retirement league
K
But this is Pirlo… this guy could play until he is 70. He would just walk around on the field with no defensive responsibilities and people would just pass him the ball and then he would serve up perfect balls on a dime.
Let me get this straight, Pirlo is already 35 and still playing and LD is 31 and calling it quits?
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiirlo!!
No!!!!!!!!!! It’s Chuck Norris.