REPORT Andrea Pirlo to sign with MLS and New York City FC over A-League, Sydney FC

According to ESPN FC's Pete O'Rourke, Andrea Pirlo is set to join New York City FC this summer.

New York City FC are in pole position to sign Andrea Pirlo with the Juventus star set to choose the MLS side over Sydney FC, sources have told ESPN FC.

Sydney FC? When did they enter the picture?

Very recently, according to Dominic Bossi of The Sydney Morning Herald. Pirlo's representatives will be meeting with the A-League club to discuss a move.

Representatives of Sydney FC and Pirlo are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a potential move to the Harbour City to become the club's new marquee player.

Sydney FC is looking for a new "marquee player" after splitting with Austrian striker Marc Janko following the A-League Grand Final.

Is this merely a meeting for the sake of having a meeting or is there still an opening for Sydney FC to make a move?Sky Sport reports that there is "an almost total agreement" between the MLS expansion club and Pirlo. So Sydney FC's window appears to be the difference between "almost total agreement" and "total agreement," however broad or narrow of an opportunity that may be.

However, the Italian midfielder has no interest in discussing his next move at the moment. There was speculation that his tears following Juventus' loss in the Champions League final were because he was leaving the Serie A club, but Pirlo set the record straight with Sky Sport Itaila.

"Were my tears a goodbye to Juventus? No, they were for the defeat. It is the kind of opportunity that I will rarely get again."

Pirlo has another year left on his contract, so we will wait and see what happens. The earliest he can join New York City FC is July 8th, but obviously a deal can be reached before then.

Pirlo, 36, has been with Juventus since 2011. He also played with Internazionale, Milan, Reggina, and Brescia and is currently an active member of the Italian National Team squad having 113 caps with the Azzurri.