If there was anything that was going to persuade Gareth Bale to join a club, it was hot weather, a nearby golf course, and the chance to choose Wales over his side any time the Dragons need him.
Bale is one of the few elite players in the world who favours playing for his country over his club. It’s rare, and in the MLS, there’s no better way of being able to put more effort into national duty as opposed to club action, simply because of the annual structure of the league.
What’s more, after loving life on the golf course in Madrid for the past nine years, Bale will be able to fill his boots with all sorts of golf action in the United States.
Which is why LAFC in the MLS have been in on the Welsh star for some time now. They check multiple boxes on Bale’s “wish list” while also offering him a taste of the Hollywood lifestyle a man of his age might find desirable. The ability to begin planting seeds for his post-playing career days was likely what sealed the deal for Bale on the West coast.
Here are a few other big name players who might consider a move stateside in the coming weeks as well.
Edinson Cavani
After a sensational career in Europe, the Uruguayan superstar, Edinson Cavani, has left Manchester United and is now a free agent with many clubs across the globe set to eye up the striker as their new main man.
Cavani has had a tough three years with injuries. This, combined with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, forced Paris Saint-Germain to let him go, and at United, he played only 59 times across the two seasons, bringing in a commendable 19 goals in the process.
No doubt Cavani would be a designated player with him on a reported £250,000 a week at Old Trafford. He does, however, still bring in goals, and with 23 major trophies alongside his 430 career goals, there’s no doubt the striker would be a great addition to any side in the MLS. The main issue for MLS clubs looking to do so is the competition they are facing, as the likes of River Plate in Argentina and Roma in Serie A are reportedly set to offer Cavani a contract.
Juan Mata
Juan Mata is another player who has departed United this summer with the aim of continuing his stellar career.
Mata has been a revelation for United and Chelsea in the Premier League. Rarely has he ever put a foot wrong on the pitch, and fans of both clubs in England adore his loveable attitude and dedication to their side. His excellent passing ability, goalscoring prowess, and magical football IQ make the ex-Valencia man an ideal signing for an MLS club in need of a bit more creativity.
Similarly to Cavani, there are reportedly many Spanish clubs seeking Mata’s signature, and in reality, after over 10 years in England, the Spainard could well return to his homeland instead of opting for the MLS.
Fernandinho
The five-time Premier League winner, Fernandinho, has been released by Manchester City with seemingly no aspirations to hang up his boots. There have been reports circulating that he aims to stay in the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal involved.
It is, however, doubtful we’ll see the Brazilian remain in England’s top flight, mainly because he is 37, would likely want a huge wage, and because of his ties to City. Ultimately, at his age now and with 26 trophies secured in Europe over the past 17 years, Fernandinho could just want to sail off into the American sunset.
The biggest issue MLS clubs have to consider is whether or not he is worth adding as a designated player at 37.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez has had one of the best careers in Europe as a South American representative in the modern era. The ex-Barcelona man won the Champions League with the Spanish giants, along with the FIFA Club World Cup, four Copa del Rey medals, and four La Liga titles. Better yet, after it looked like his career could be on the downward spiral after being let go by Barcelona, Suarez went on to be one of the main men in Atletico Madrid’s famous league triumph of 2020/21.
The Uruguayan brings to the table a career that has seen him become his nation’s all-time top scorer with 68 goals in 132 caps, while adding 452 goals at club level across six different clubs in five different leagues.
Similar to Cavani, however, Suarez could follow the usual trend of South Americans wanting to end their career on their home continent in Argentina, and it does look as if MLS sides are going to need to convince him otherwise. There are also reports suggesting he could move to Aston Villa to join his ex-Liverpool colleague, Steven Gerrard.
-Grant McQuillan
Twitter: @Grant_McQuillan
Photo: Jon Candy. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.