TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report
A report from Barcelona-based newspaper Sport indicates superstar forward David Villa would like to play for one more pro season, but that it likely won't be with New York City FC.
Villa, who will turn 37 in December, is out of contract following the season, with NYCFC unlikely to renew the Designated Player signing according to the report. For the first time during a four-year MLS tenure, Villa was hampered at times by injury in 2018, but still managed 14 league goals and five assists in 23 appearances (20 starts).
After Sunday's MLS Cup Playoff defeat to Atlanta United, coach Dome Torrent indicated it was too soon to discuss the future of the man known in Spain as El Guaje.
āI donāt know. Itās not the right time, believe me, because we are disappointed,ā NYCFC coach Dome Torrent said after the match. āRight now itās not the best moment to speak about that, about David, about the contract because [NYCFC sporting director] Claudio [Reyna] is ready to talk about that with the players in the next two or three days.ā
Either way, he will be NYCFC's all-time leading scorer for some time, currently possessing 77 league goals. The second person on that list? Frank Lampard, who has 15.
āHeās a legend. The club and the city can be thankful for a guy like him to have played in our team,ā midfielder Alex Ring said. āI donāt know what heās decided. Heāll probably tell that himself. I hope he continues because heās a flagpole for the club, for the league. Letās not forget what heās done in this league. Heās had a couple of injuries this season. You shouldnāt forget or sleep on that, but weāll see. These are things, I canāt make him continue. We hope for the best and weāll see of course.ā
āDavid is David. Heās been tremendous for this club. Thereās no doubt about that,ā added goalkeeper Sean Johnson. āYou understand in this sport, especially when you donāt achieve what you set out to that change is inevitable. Itās just a part of the business. Obviously David has given us everything he has and itās been tremendous for me to play with him over two seasons.ā