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The treasure trove of news that is the MetroFanatic.com interviews from New York Red Bulls Media Day includes this tidbit from the chat with Bradley Wright-Phillips:
MF: Your brother is gone, you are the only Wright-Phillips once again.
BWP: Yeah.MF: Is he retiring?
BWP: No, he's gonna play... I think he's going to Phoenix. I'm not really sure.MF: Phoenix?
BWP: Maybe, I don't want to talk too much, because I don't really know too much.MF: So he's staying in America?
BWP: Yeah, he'll definitely be in America. It's good, I'm used to living in different cities and different countries for Shaun. It's alright, as long as he's happy.
Shaun Wright-Phillips' contract with RBNY expired at the end of the 2016 season. In two seasons with the club, he had been a more significant presence in training than in competition: he made 25 appearances in all competitions for the Red Bulls, but only six starts, over two years. MetroFanatic asked the question many fans were interested in: what next for RBNY's other Wright-Phillips?
And from his response, it's clear BWP might know, thinks he does know, but also isn't all that confident about his brother's next move. At least we know, SWP isn't planning to retire and will be staying in America.
We also know, thanks to Jordan Stewart's Instagram account, that SWP was in Phoenix - at least as recently as the beginning of February.
And we know Phoenix Rising FC is an ambitious USL team. The club has applied to be part of the next wave of MLS expansion, and accumulated a number of high-profile investors - including celebrity DJ (among other things) Diplo.
The team used to be called Arizona United SC, but it re-branded at the end of the 2016 USL season, and has wasted little time in raising its profile. The 2017 kit carries Diplo's record label, Mad Decent, as a sponsor.
Buy the jersey everyone is talking about and look as as @uche_uzo2 and @migsa14. #RisingAsOne https://t.co/26mca9slpi pic.twitter.com/xRLY7nnhlQ
— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) February 8, 2017
And the team has shown an appetite for splashy signings: former Mexico international and all-time leading scorer for Liga MX's Chivas, Omar Bravo, has recently joined the squad for 2017. Shaun Wright-Phillips wouldn't be an out-of-place addition to a club that wants to win some attention this year.