Barcelona Wants to Bring MLS to Miami

Cue the Thierry Henry/Lionel Messi/Samuel Eto’o to MLS rumors. FC Barcelona is looking for a piece of the MLS action.

“The idea is to set up an investee company involving FC Barcelona and a Bolivian entrepreneur living in Miami, Marcelo Claure, who is the chief of an investment group featuring Americans and citizens of different South American countries,” the statement said.

“Claure is already the owner of FC Bolivar, with whom FC Barcelona already collaborate. The company’s sole aim right now is present an application for a franchise and promote it to the MLS”.

MLS currently has 14 teams with Seattle joining in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010. The league plans to add two more sides for the 2011 season. The deadline for applications for those two slots is on Wednesday.

And if you’re an MLS fan, you’re probably thinking, “MLS in Miami? Didn’t we play that tune already?”

The answer is, of course, yes. The Miami Fusion failed to…um…fuse with locals when they played there in ‘98-’01, possibly because they actually kind of played in Ft. Lauderdale.

But that was then. This is ‘08, and the plan is to do it right this time, with Barcelona’s backing. Barcelona president Joan Laporta is even expected to be in Miami when the club files the bid with MLS.

And the wailing and gnashing of teeth (not to mention loud, angry swear words) that you hear emanating from places like Portland and Vancouver and St. Louis? That’s the good folks who are backing MLS franchises in those cities, who are just now realizing that Miami (with Barcelona’s help) has cut to the front of the line.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: MLS, World Football

Tags: Joan Laporta, Miami, Miami Fusion, MLS, MLS expansion, World Football

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