New York Cosmos have made an audacious attempt to land Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs for a series of high-profile exhibition games next season.
And brokers acting on behalf of the newly-reformed American franchise are also thought to have approached Everton star Phil Neville about joining them in 2012 when they will have a licence to join the MLS.
But it’s 37-year-old Giggs who has been targeted as a headline star for the exhibition games that will announce the famous Cosmos back on the world stage. The matches will be billed as football’s version of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball outfit, with the Cosmos backers aiming for an eye-catching return to the spotlight.
The Cosmos – stars of the North American Soccer League from 1971 to 1984 – have re-formed after going out of business in 1985. In their heyday they were the talk of football after signing Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.
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In August last year, Pele announced the return of the Cosmos and the club have set a 2012 date for fielding a team in the MLS. They are looking to recruit big names nearing the end of their careers for exhibition matches to be televised worldwide later this year.
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Transfer news: New York Cosmos plot sensational swoop for Manchester United star Ryan Giggs - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk
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