Spain’s David Villa to play 10 matches in Australia for Melbourne City

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Spain’s all-time leading goal scorer David Villa will play a 10-match guest stint in the A-League with the rebranded Melbourne City.

Villa left Spanish league champions Atletico Madrid and will play in New York City’s inaugural MLS campaign beginning in March next year.

To build match fitness, Villa will be loaned to sister club Melbourne City, which changed its name from Melbourne Heart after being bought by English Premier League champion Manchester City this year.

Villa, a member of Spain’s World Cup team in Brazil, says “from a football point of view it’s the opportunity to play in a new league in a different country, and of course it will be ideal for me to get some competitive football in the period before the MLS season gets underway.”