With New York City FC preparing to make their 2015 debut in Major League Soccer, those associated with the club are tasked with the job of bringing in some of the best available talent in order to make the newest soccer franchise successful right out of the gates. Able to sign three designated players from outside the club salary cap heading into their inaugural 2015 season, NYC FC higher-ups have shown significant interest in current FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi. The 33-year-old has spent his entire 16-year senior career with the La Liga giants but because he will turn 35 by the time New York City FC takes to the pitch, many believe an exit from Spain is a possibility.
Owned by the tandem of Premier League affiliate Manchester City and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, New York City FC will become the second franchise to play in the New York metropolitan area, with the New York Red Bulls currently based in Harrison, New Jersey. NYC FC manager Jason Kreis -- who served as Real Salt Lake boss from 2007 through 2013 -- has been given full autonomy to sign the players of his choosing but Man City director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano would like those players to fit the style of Xavi. NYC FC sporting director Claudio Reyna has already started the process of scouting alongside Kreis, indicating that NYC FC intends to bring in the best talent available.
“We have to be very aggressive and active in an offensive mode with player recruitment and the player search,” Reyna said. “Our approach, with Jason and I, is to go find the players we want to fit into how he wants to build the team. And not just the right people that are important on the field, but probably more important off the field. Toronto did a great job bringing Michael Bradley back. He’s the right guy, a top professional. Those are the kind of people we’re looking for. The clock is ticking and we’re looking now.
“We have 36 scouts within City Football Group and we started to speak with them last year already, started to make contact with them,” he continued. “It’s a lot of fun, to be honest. I get to travel and watch games and meet with players and their representatives. Every week there’s a new name being thrown at us.”
The interest in Xavi makes sense for New York City FC since the potential signing of one of Spain’s most beloved players would be a step in the right direction as far as building a fan base is concerned. The 2010 World Soccer Player of the Year Award winner will only have one-year remaining on his current club contract once 2015 comes and a mutual move from Spain to the United States appears to be a definite possibility.
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