Where I get, in digital ink, the hot takes my friends are begging me to stop saying because they’re 5 years away
The MLS will be a better and deeper league than Ligue 1 by 2021.
Ligue 1 clubs are notoriously cash-strapped. If you subscribe to the thought that the MLS will one day be a top-3 league (and if you don’t, god bless), let me explain why you should accelerate that timeline.
- There is a
- The MLS continues to emerge as a legitimate feeder to European clubs. That’s a crucial step to attract young, exciting talent.
- Almirón was always tipped for bigger things and his sale to NUFC was for a significant sum.
- Aaronson to RB Salzburg a fantastic example of stepping-stones; did not replace but does follow in Haaland’s footsteps
- Calden Clark (?) to Leipzig as well
- Harrison to Man. City; was never going to play there, but is comfortably in Leeds’ squad
- Scally to Monchengladbach
- (or 2B). The MLS is emerging as a feeder to big clubs. That is shocking and shows (South American) talent they don’t have to cross the Atlantic.
- Alphonso Davies to Bayern
- Zach Steffen to Man. City
- Tyler Adams to RB Leipzig
- Bryan Reynolds to Roma
- Pepi to go somewhere big, soon
- Rising legit homegrown talent (not the Klinsmann nationality transfers) should buoy league quality
- Good, older players are increasingly seeing MLS as a viable, even desirable option. This is happening in a way it never will in France. True, these players are on the downside of their career; but not what you’d think. Off the top of my head…
- Zlatan, after rampant scoring for Manchester United, comes to LA Galaxy. He’s 37?! Doesn’t matter. Goes to Milan after two years and continues scoring for fun at 40. High-quality.
- Higuain was forced out by Juventus for his wages. Juve is good. Not forced out by St. Etienne or Alaves. Signing (to play with his brother) huge coup for the league, despite the atrocity of Inter Miami as a whole
- Cavani had long-standing links to join Inter Miami after PSG. Declining player? Sure. He’s gone to spend his twilight years at *checks notes* Manchester United
- Been assumed for years one or both of Messi and Ronaldo will come. I don’t care if they’re 45. At 34 and 36, respectively, sparked massive transfer battles this summer
- Suarez, Bale, Griezmann amongst others rumored
And, perhaps most importantly…. America has a tremendous advantage in (gross) wealth terms to everyone minus China. Two caveats are MLS will have stronger parity (financial) measures than FFP; and of course, revenues for the top European clubs will continue to dwarf American FC’s for longer than ten years.
But revenues and profitability compared to French clubs, for example? The U.S. is going to be competitive a lot sooner than anyone is giving them credit for.
P.S.: I’m convinced the best investment opportunity in sports, right now, is buying a warm-weather MLS franchise. I’m aware they’re all currently owned. Austin and Nashville stand out.
First Take Forever 