Philadelphia here I don’t come, says Pires

MLS: 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.

But L’Equipe said Pires, 36, rejected an offer from the Union and MLS to join the club because Philadelphia was not “beautiful”.