MLS in Miami: 5 Designated Players Miami Should Target

After years of efforts to bring the David Beckham experience to Miami, the MLS club will finally launch in 2020. Which DPs should they target?

Monday MLS announced (officially) that the league was headed to Miami. A day after the celebration they confirmed the team will begin to play in 2020. The club will play in a temporary home for their inaugural season, before moving into a brand new ground for 2021.

Miami is a very attractive market for tourists, investors, and most importantly in this case – players. Attaching the Beckham name only makes it that much more of a destination. With a look at fielding a competitive team, but one that drives global interest (ala Beckham to the LA Galaxy), which players would make valuable Designated Players?

Sergio Aguero

The legendary striker for Argentina and Manchester City would be a perfect target for Miami, following the mold of David Villa at NYCFC. Aguero’s contract ends in the summer of 2020 (if Man City don’t move him sooner).

He would be 31 at the start of that MLS season. With a current transfer value of $75M, it’s unlikely City let him walk away for free at the end of his contract, not to mention to an MLS club that isn’t NYCFC. In the end to land Sergio, it would most likely require him to desire the move and either push for a winter transfer or join Miami mid-year once his contract ended.

Edinson Cavani

Same situation, one year older, $15M cheaper (at the moment). Cavani is in fine form at PSG this year with 27 goals so far. David has connections with the Ligue 1 side having played there on loan during his tenure with the LA Galaxy.

Cavani’s name wouldn’t resonate as much with average American’s, but would internationally. Edinson probably has only one more contract left in his career, and his physicality might hold up well in MLS.

Keylor Navas

A DP goalkeeper? Knowing MLS rules and the evolution of allocation money, if they could land Navas, it would probably be achievable even without using a DP spot. The Real Madrid keeper would be 33 and in the final half-season of his contract.

As a Costa Rican international, the move would bring him closer to home and fit well into the target demographic for Miami. By the 19/20 season, Madrid will have moved on to a new younger keeper (see: De Gea), and open to sending Navas on.

Gerard Pique

A combination of talent, leadership, and brand – both himself and his superstar wife, Shakira. His contract runs through June 2022 and is currently valued at 40M. But will the then 33-year-old CB still be a first choice starter for Barcelona at that point?

While it’s hard to imagine either Pique not at Barca or Barca not starting Pique, the day will come. What better way to anchor your initial back-line than with the World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner?

Cristiano Ronaldo

If you didn’t already have Ronaldo on your short list for Miami, you weren’t thinking big enough. No other player seems to better fit the swagger of an incoming David Beckham backed team in Miami seems to resonate.

His contract with Real Madrid doesn’t conclude until the end of the 2020/21 season, so Miami would have to be creative in getting him to the league early. David’s relationship with Madrid would surely help, as would Cristiano’s desire to add a few more North American based sponsors.

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Those are just five of the options the Miami side could target to capitalize on the glamour of Miami and appeal of the growing league. Truthfully, Miami will likely aim to sign one or two bright young talents in the mold of Almiron, but will undoubtedly have one or two globally recognizable names when the 2020 season kicks off.

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