Major League Soccer's avowed desire is to be the "best league in the world." It's nowhere near that right now, but some of the transactions this offseason show that it might be moving toward an intermediate step — becoming a league where players can show off for European teams, a key move away from its "retirement league" reputation.
The best example is 18-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco, who moved from Argentine giant Independiente to Atlanta United for a $15 million transfer fee. That $15 million smashed the previous American record set by standout Michael Bradley's move from Roma to Toronto for $10 million.
Bradley's move was the old way MLS did things — pay big bucks to bring a marketable American star back home. Barco, who's played just two seasons so far, represents the new way. Atlanta, which also paid $8.5 million last year to Lanus (also from Argentina) for 24-year-old Paraguayan standout Miguel Almirón, is betting that it can win by developing young talent under coach Tata Martino — and then make a profit by selling rising stars to the best clubs in Europe.
If this theory is successful, it could lead to a win-win-win kind of scenario. Selling players to European teams could bring more money into MLS, which still pitches nickels around like manhole covers. It could also lead to better, more exciting soccer on the field, and get other young players interested in showcasing their skills in MLS — which is starting to shed its worldwide reputation as a skill-free, overly physical league.
Not every team will be able to make the same pitch as Martino, whose previous two jobs were coaching Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Martino can sell players on his expertise, but that doesn't mean young stars from Latin America will be beating down doors to play for every team in the league.
It doesn't mean that clubs won't hold out for inflated prices, either.
Minnesota United seems to be finding this out the hard way, as it's been unable to convince Colombian club Deportivo Cali to sell 20-year-old Colombian midfielder Nicolás Benedetti.
Besides Atlanta, though, there are several MLS clubs set up to make a push. English giant Manchester City owns NYC FC, giving the MLS club a natural pipeline to Europe. Teams like expansion Los Angeles FC and league champion Toronto have shown a willingness to spend big money for players — something they could extend to younger players. A team like FC Dallas, with its well-regarded youth academy, could move on to developing older players who've had a few years in the big leagues already.
