LeBron James has spoken with David Beckham about the possibility of joining an ownership group attempting to bring an MLS team to Miami, the NBA star confirmed Monday.
The four-time NBA MVP already has shown interest in the beautiful game, purchasing shares of Liverpool in July of 2011. Now he is considering becoming involved with a team that would be closer to home.
"There is some interest on both sides. David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club," James told the Miami Herald. "There is interest on both sides, but it’s preliminary talks but there is some open dialogue."
Beckham has the option to buy into MLS at a discounted rate, a privilege that was in his deal to join the LA Galaxy in 2007. The league confirmed in October that it is in discussions with Beckham about owning a team with reports consistently indicating Miami would be the former England international's location of choice.
''I am excited about owning a team ... continuing to be part of the MLS in the future,'' Beckham told The Associated Press in October. "Miami excites me because I think it's a city that is very excitable."
Despite his excitement, there are concerns about the viability of the Miami market. MLS expanded to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 1998, but that team, the Miami Fusion, folded after four seasons because of financial difficulties.
"We don’t know" how viable the Miami market would be for a new-look MLS team, James said. "The research is still being made out but I think it could be huge. But, you never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There’s a great youth [system] of soccer here. And people love the city as well, so that definitely will help."
In addition to James, Beckham has reportedly spoken with Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure about the possibility of joining the ownership group of a Miami MLS club.
