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Vieira, Pires, Giuly To Follow Henry To MLS?

Category: Major League Soccer (MLS)
Created by: chelsea4ever     Create Date: April 6, 2010 07:04 AM     Last Comment: April 6, 2010 10:10 AM

France Football reports this morning that the Barcelona striker has indeed been in contact with MLS officials about a move to the United States this summer, but he's not the only French star drawing interest from the league. The report notes that Patrick Vieira, Ludovic Giuly and Robert Pires are also mulling over the idea of playing in Major League Soccer. Meanwhile, former AS Monaco president Jerome de Bontin claims that nearly two-dozen French players have contacted him in regards to wanting to join the growing league.

"The MLS, I'm tempted," Pires was quoted as saying. "Each time you asked me the question, I said yes. For me, this is the league to be discovered, one that is growing. I want to discover another culture."

Pires, 36, will finish his contract with Villarreal this summer and is mentioned in connection with a move to the Philadelphia Union. The long-time Arsenal player was named by Pele to the FIFA 100 list in 2004 and represented France 79 times from 1996 until 2004, when a dispute with France coach Raymond Domenech brought his international career to an end. Prior to that, he was a part of the country's side for their triumphs in the 1998 World Cup, Euro 2000, and two Confederations Cups (2001 & 2003), and also played in the 1996 Summer Olympics and Euro 2004.

Giuly, 33, currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain. He captained Monaco to the Champions League final in the 2003-04 season and was bought by Barcelona shortly thereafter. During his time at the Nou Camp, he helped the club win La Liga twice and the Champions League once. He also played for AS Roma and Olympique Lyonnais in his distinguished club career. Internationally, Giuly was on the France squad that won the 2003 Confederations Cup; he made a total of 17 appearances for his country between 2000-2005.

Vieira, 33, is another former Arsenal legend, having made nearly 300 appearances for the club from 1996-2005. Also a member of the FIFA 100, he spent the latter half of last decade in Italy with Juventus and then Inter before signing a six-month contract with Manchester City this past January. His international resume includes appearances on the France squad for the 1996 Summer Olympics, three World Cups ('98, '02, '06), three European Championships ('00, '04, '08) and the 2001 Confederations Cup. He has made over 100 appearances for France since 1997 and was last called up internationally for a friendly in June 2009.

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