New York City FC and Andrea Pirlo have reached an agreement, and the Italian legend will join the club. The New York Daily News reported this afternoon that the two parties have reached an agreement.
Pirlo has been rumored to join the New York club for a few weeks now, with his future up in the air after his club, Juventus, lost in the Champions League Final.
Although an agreement as been made by Pirlo, NYCFC, and MLS, it remains to be seen if Juventus will let him walk for free, or make NYCFC pay a transfer fee. Juventus striker Carlos Tevez is also leaving, and it appears the Turin club will let him go on a free to Boca Juniors.
The rumors became larger this week, when it was reported Pirlo had bought a house in TriBeCa and his children told their friends that they were moving from Turin.
The rumors hit critical mass this week, when Pirlo was spotted by fans shopping in downtown Manhattan, as well at Yankee Stadium along side NYCFC officials.
Pirlo's son today also posted a goodbye picture to Juventus, as well as posting a picture on Instagram of a NYCFC jersey. Vavel USA could not confirm the authenticity of the Instagram account.
Certain newspapers in Italy had speculated that Pirlo would only be joining NYCFC in February, as a help for himself to get into the Italian squad for next year's Euros. The New York Daily News, along with the NY Post, refuted those comments and said that he will play for NYCFC this season.
Pirlo will join David Villa and Frank Lampard as NYCFC's designated players. Fans will be able to now salivate at the possible Lampard-Pirlo-Diskerud midfield that will grace Yankee Stadium's outfield.
Per the reports, Pirlo would be making around the same 6-7 million dollar range annually that Lampard and Villa make.
Pirlo, just like Lampard, can only play after July 8th when the summer transfer window opens.
Pirlo is expected to be officially unveiled by the club Friday.
More to come.