Domenec Torrent on David Villa: “If its not possible to sign a name — I know our fans expect a name — maybe the solution is to sign two or three players to replace David because it is not easy. ” (Photo courtesy of NYCFC)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

CHICAGO — It’s certainly not easy replacing a superstar and a half. Just ask New York City FC.

When he played for City, David Villa waw a triple threat. He was a big name, a hard-working superstar and a productive one at that.

Finding someone to wear his boots will be a challenge and a half.

NYCFC head coach Domenec Torrent admitted it will be difficult to replace Villa, who will ply his trade in with Vissel Kobe in Japan.

“We have to replace an important player for us, like David Villa,” Torrent said during the MLS SuperDraft at McCormick Place Friday afternoon. “Villa had everything, name, performance, goals. It’s not easy to replace these kind of players. I’m working [on] that.

“If its not possible to sign a name — I know our fans expect a name — maybe the solution is to sign two or three players to replace David because it is not easy. Normally the players in Europe finish the contract in the summer. Right now, maybe it is not possible to sign a big name. Maybe the solution is that we will try to sign the right players, wingers, strikers, to replace David.”

Villa, 37, was the gold standard of Designated players in Major League Soccer. He was a World Cup champion with Spain and a prolific striker in La Liga.

During his four-year tenure with NYCFC, Villa rarely disappointed with NYCFC, scoring a club-record 80 goals in 124 matches. After winning MLS MVP honors in 2016, Villa enjoyed his best year statistically the next season, when he struck 24 times in 33 matches. He scored an MLS career-low 15 goals in 26 appearances during an injury-plagued 2018 season.