Major League Soccer newcomers the Philadelphia Union
have fired back at French midfielder Robert Pires after his
apparent dismissal of their home city.
The Union, who became the 16th MLS team when the league started
at the end of March, had been linked with a move for former Arsenal
star Pires, who is a free agent after his contract expired with
Spanish side Villarreal.
Pires, 36, would have been signed as the club's first
'designated player', meaning the majority of his salary would not
have counted towards its salary cap.
But he was reported by French newspaper L'Equipe as
having rejected an offer from the Union and MLS to join the club in
July because Philadelphia was not "beautiful".
"It does not please me to (go to
Philadelphia)," Pires told L'Equipe. "I do not want to be
difficult, but if I had to take my family away, I'd rather do it in
a beautiful city. Otherwise, I will put an end to my
career."
Union chief executive Nick Sakiewicz told the Philadelphia
Daily News that Pires had turned down an invitation to visit
the city.
"It's a bit of a shock as to where all this is coming from,"
Sakiewicz said. "A, he's never been here and B, we never made him
an offer.
"I think Robert is a good player with a lot of experience and a
lot of good football left in him, but he may just not have been for
us; and obviously, given his comments, he clearly is not for
us."
soccernet.