NEW YORK – When David Villa donned the newly unveiled New York City FC home kit at a Manhattan club Thursday afternoon, fans got a glimpse of the future.
Four months from now Villa will wear that famed No. 7 jersey in the team’s inaugural home game at Yankee Stadium on March 15.
As for the Spanish superstar’s immediate future, that’s a bit murkier. The striker is unsure whether he’ll return to Melbourne City, where he made four appearances in the A-League before leaving for New York to participate in the jersey unveiling.
For the time being, Villa is training in New York while getting his family settled.
“I don’t know if I’ll be going back yet,” Villa said. “It’s complicated not being able to compete and [play]. It was real good to have the month in Australia. It’s different, but I’m training well. I’m working well, so when it’s time to compete I’ll be in the best shape. And it gives me more desire and excitement to compete and when the day comes I’m going to have double the excitement than when I was playing before.”
Villa is part of what is becoming a Spanish invasion in MLS. Jose Mari of the Colorado Rapids, New York Red Bulls duo Armando and Ruben Bover, and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Antonio Dovale along with former charge Uri Rosell all joined the league in recent years and have enjoyed different levels of success.
“I'm convinced that there will be more Spanish players and European players coming here because the league is growing a lot and the expectations of the league are growing a lot,” Villa said. “It’s getting more and more attractive for players in Spain and Europe.”
Villa, though, said he hasn’t been trying to recruit any of those players to join him in New York.
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“That’s the job of Jason [Kreis] and Claudio [Reyna]. Not mine,” Villa said, “I’m a soccer player and I have to work the maximum I can to fit into the team, regardless of whoever the teammates are. And I’m convinced that not just the DPs, but the rest of the other players, will be really good because Claudio and Jason are working on it and I’m convinced that their ability is tremendous in this sense.”
Villa said he’s enjoyed watching the MLS playoffs and will continue to do so. He’s also keeping tabs on future teammate Frank Lampard, who is on loan with Manchester City.
Lampard is expected to join Villa and the rest of New York City for the start of preseason in January.
“We speak sometimes by text and I think he’s a spectacular player as he's always been,” Villa said. “He’s a great person as I’m getting to know him and that’s what the club is going to be: Professional people with strong backgrounds and a desire to win. Hopefully between us two and the rest of the guys who will sign we can do a good job.”
