First Giorgio Chiellini, now Gareth Bale. The Los Angeles FC from the North American Major League Soccer (MLS) strengthened with two old stars. The league should and wanted to move away from exactly this path.
The Welshman Bale last played at Real Madrid, where his contract had expired and was not renewed. The 32-year-old attacker can play for his new club from July 1st. The Italian Chiellini comes from record champions Juventus Turin – also free of charge.
The club from California has thus succeeded in two transfer coups. Bale was from in 2013 Tottenham Hotspur came to Real Madrid and was considered the most expensive player in the world at the time with a transfer fee of 101 million euros. He won the five times in Madrid alone Champions League and only recently qualified through the playoffs Wales for the World Cup in Qatar. Chiellini became European champion with Italy in 2021.
leaders in the West
los Angeles only played in MLS since 2018. Last season the team was in the Western Conference Ninth, finished 19th in the overall standings, missing out on the playoffs by lengths.
In the current season, it is managed by a financially strong group of owners franchise but leaders in the West. The goal is the title and that’s why the Californians obviously want to get down to business. At a top European club there is no longer room for the aging duo Bale and Chiellini, for the MLS there is still enough. Bale sums it up. “This is the right place for me and my family and the right time in my career”he said.
Whether all of this makes sense remains to be seen. Actually, the league should and wanted to move away from this path. The background is that the 2026 World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Local talents are more likely to be in demand than European veterans.
Cherundolo against strict salary caps
The team is coached by Steven Cherundolo, a long-time professional at Hannover 96. The 43-year-old played 87 international matches for the US team between 1999 and 2012 and took part in three World Cup finals. Previously, Cherundolo worked at the partner club Las Vegas Lights in the United Soccer League.
If it was up to him, there would soon be many more Bales and Chiellinis on his team. However, this currently prevents a salary cap. MLS should say goodbye to that in favor of its development, says Cherundolo. “I don’t think they do Salary Cap will go away completely, and I don’t think it would be particularly wise either”said the coach. “But a little loosened up”he thinks it’s good. “If clubs want to invest to win, I think it would be good if they were allowed to do that. I think that will happen in the next few years.”according to Cherundolo.
“There is still a lot that can be done”
the Major League Soccer have developed well with a slow growth concept in recent years. “But I think the public, the financiers and the fans are ready to loosen the reins a bit so that the clubs can invest more themselves.”said the American: “Football in the USA has come a long way, the league has come a long way, but you can still make a difference compared to many clubs in Germany.”
Background: In the MLS there is a salary cap for each team. Last season that was around five million USdollar. The salary of up to three players is only a small proportion and can therefore be significantly higher. However, all others in the squad must not exceed the limit.
Pfannenstiel goes a different way
Lutz Pfannenstiel thinks nothing of such considerations. The former goalkeeper and football globetrotter is sporting director at the MLS club Saint-Louis City. The club is currently building the most modern training center in North America, which will also house the club’s youth academy. The 49-year-old WDR presenter Sven Pistor revealed this in the podcast “Einfach Fußball”.
Pfannenstiel and other clubs are taking a different approach: “A lot of clubs are moving away from bringing in older players with big names. Schweinsteiger, Ibrahimovic and Rooney – that may have been popular years ago to heat up the league. Now it’s becoming a league that’s interesting for top coaches and young talents .”
No “flagship players”
St.Louis is “a football crazy city, the capital of football”because he thinks little of so-called “lighthouse players”. There is enough talent. “I don’t believe in signing older players who want to play a bit more here. I’m looking for young and hungry players.”said Panhandle.