Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Author: Alex Dudley
It has been nearly 17 months since David Beckham officially unveiled plans for his MLS team, Inter Miami CF, with the new franchise expected to join the top level of American soccer at the begging of the 2020-21 season. While the club will begin playing fixtures in this campaign, their home stadium won't be opened for at least a further two years.
Beckham has undoubtedly got his vision for the club, after playing a part as owner in the promotion success of Salford City to the Football League; few would argue that he has all the abilities to guide a new MLS side better than most.
The talks about who could join his franchise have been well-documented; after all, Beckham knows almost every famous player across the globe and players would love the opportunity to play for his team. He has already commented that we would like to bring some Colombian players, which led pundits to speculate on names. Besides those mentioned, which players could we see in the MLS with Inter Miami?
One player that has been continuously linked to the MLS club has been formed Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia. Beckham and United's links have been there for the get-go and the prospect of signing a player that has played for the Red Devils for an extended period will undoubtedly be a marketing coup.
Valencia was released by the Old Trafford club after the 2018-19 season and will be on the lookout for a new club over the summer months. It looks unlikely that he will sign a contract with Inter this summer due to the right-back then needing to have 12 months away from the game. Instead, we could see the 33-year-old sign a short-term deal with a club so that he can join Inter when that deal expires. It would be a signal of intent from Beckham's club that they aren't just making up the numbers in the MLS.
Every MLS side that is a serious contender needs a star man that can be the figurehead of their project. Los Angeles Galaxy have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, DC United have Wayne Rooney, and Inter Miami is looking to make Luis Suarez their main man. The former Liverpool star has been a great servant during his time at the Nou Camp, but he has been criticized in the last seasons. Next summer the club will probably be looking for a fresher pair of legs since Suarez will be celebrating his 34th birthday in the 2020-21 season.
The talks surrounding Suarez and Beckham's franchise have been ongoing for nearly eight months now after the Uruguay international was pictured in Miami with Beckham presumably talking about the move. The signing of Suarez would be a clear intention of their goals, as the number nine has scored 131 goals in 163 appearances during his career at Barcelona.
While the Everton man isn't one of the biggest names that could be brought to Miami, there is a feeling that he could resurrect his career in the way that Bradley Wright-Phillips did with the New York Red Bulls. By the time that Beckham will be looking to build a squad, Walcott will be weighing up his options and as he is already deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park, so it seems a move could be on the cards.
Since the Englishman has just turned 30, it means that Beckham will be able to get an extended time out of Walcott for the new franchise, and he could spearhead the team for the next five years. Given his pace and skill, he would likely flourish in the MLS alongside a player of the calibre of Suarez.
Betting on the big MLS games has become a trend unlike any other, with soccer fans heading online to bet much like American football fans looking for the best NFL bets. The markets for the winners of the current season are hotly contested, but once Inter Miami enters the MLS; they will certainly one to look out for.
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