The MLS has previously received bids from potential teams in various regions in the USA and Canada for the 18th franchise; now Barcelona FC have entered the fray as they have found the perfect means of expanding their brand to North America.
“This is a very important day in our club’s 109-year history. We are a global brand and it is important to [be] present in the U.S. market and in the sport in America,” said Barcelona president Joan Laporta, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The same report claims that the working name of the new team is Barca Miami, though that could change; the report also suggests that Barca Miami would reflect the parent team much in the same way that Chivas USA reflects Chivas de Guadalajara.
The MLS is unlikely to make a decision as to where the 18th MLS team (set to join the league in 2011) will be based until next year.
[Source: Los Angeles Times]
