Building new team around Villa puts New York on map

That’s what you call a statement of intent; New York City FC signing striker David Villa on Monday was an impactful moment.

Timed brilliantly — just as he was being confirmed to the Spanish World Cup squad — and delivered with the sort of social media aplomb this geminating club has boasted for a few months now, there was a genuine wow factor created around the league.

There was enough healthy scepticism too, with some of the more cynical observers noting that this was yet another reason to brush the MLS off as a retirement home.