After AC Milan confirmed their visit to the United States last week, another Italian giant has announced an upcoming trip to New York.
Juventus FC, 27-time Italian champions, will play the New York Red Bulls in the first ever exhibition match between the two sides on Sunday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena.
The match could be the prelude to the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero to the New York Red Bulls. According to Monday’s edition of Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, Del Piero has received a formal offer from the Red Bulls and will be making a decision in the coming days.
Although he still has one more year under contract with Juventus, the paper reports that the rebuilding project that the Turin-based club is expected to undergo in the offseason might encourage the Italian legend to move up his plans.
The New York Red Bulls had no comment regarding the report when asked by MLSsoccer.com.
Along with Del Piero, Juventus forward David Trezeguet was also recently rumored as a potential Designated Player target for an MLS club. Del Piero and Trezeguet are not expected to be part of their nations’ World Cup squads and thus might very well be available for the match in New York.
Juventus players expected to join the Italian national team include goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, forward Vincenzo Iaquinta, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi and defenders Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini.
La Vecchia Signora is in the stretch run of one of its most difficult seasons to date. It currently stands in seventh place in the Serie A, 20 points behind first-place Roma and six points behind Sampdoria for the fourth and final UEFA Champions League preliminary round berth. There are four matches left in the current Italian season, which concludes on May 16.
The Red Bulls are giving their full season ticket holders the first dibs on Juventus tickets on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Other NYRB plan holders get the next exclusive window for a few hours on Thurs., April 22, before the match goes on sale to the general public at 3 p.m. on that same day.
Below is a list of some other international matches involving MLS clubs or venues in May:
May 19 – Paris St. Germain @ Chicago Fire (8 p.m. ET at Toyota Park)
May 22 – Legia Warsaw or Red Star Belgrade vs. Chicago Fire (7 or 9 p.m. ET at Toyota Park)
May 22 – Turkey vs Czech Republic (12:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena)
May 23 – Juventus @ New York Red Bulls (1 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena)
May 26 – AC Milan @ D.C. United (8 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium)
