NEW YORK – There are exactly four personal items in New York City Councilman Francisco Moya’s office. Two of them are signed by David Villa. The first is a Barcelona jersey which sits off to the side of his office waiting to be hung on the wall. The second is the first jersey given to Villa after he signed with New York City FC. That framed piece of memorabilia sits behind Moya’s desk in Corona, barely a mile from where he hopes his favorite MLS team will call home.



Like many residents in the Queens neighborhood, Moya is South American. Like many Latinos, Moya is a Barcelona fan. He wears an assortment of bracelets from the club and they share space with the rosary on his right wrist. On his left wrist, a watch with the club’s colors as the band. But whereas the average Barcelona fan living in America will wear the apparel, watch the games on beIN Sport and maybe shell out some cash for the times the team visits the U.S. on tour, Moya became a full...