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Sources: New York Red Bulls not interested in Francesco Totti

Sources: New York Red Bulls not interested in Francesco Totti

Francesco Totti reportedly has had interest in continuing his legendary career in Major League Soccer, but two MLS teams have already rebuffed the Italian midfielder's overtures.

The AS Roma and Italy legend has been offered to the New York Red Bulls and one other Eastern Conference club, but both teams have declined to pursue the 39-year-old Totti, Yahoo Sports has learned. Totti, who has made 58 international appearances for the Azzurri, has also been linked with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.

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With his future at Roma in doubt, Totti was looking to follow the path of former European league stars Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. But the fact that Totti is generating such little interest is perhaps a sign that MLS has started to move on from signing the legends of yesteryear.

While New York City FC will continue to sell tickets as fans hope to catch a final glimpse of Pirlo and Lampard, teams like the Columbus Crew, FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers enjoy on-field success by signing lesser-known players who are very much in their prime.

The teams' rejection of Totti, who turns 40 in September, might be the beginning of a trend where MLS finally stops signing a player based solely on jersey and ticket sales. Of course, Ronaldinho is still available if anyone is interested.