The wheels are in motion for David Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise. Last week we saw what could very well be the new logo for the team, and if that logo turns out to be true, we can expect an entry into MLS in 2020.
So, if that’s the case, then the speculation about potential Designated Players (DP for the cool kids) will be rife. Whether it’s a seasoned vet from a top European league or a young South American looking to prove himself, the rumor mill will no doubt be in overdrive.
Here are our top five picks for the first ever DPs in the Miami team’s history.
Potential Designated Players For Miami's MLS Team
Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan will be 33 by the time the 2020 MLS season rolls around, and he has the physical build to terrorize opposition defenses in the league. Don’t forget that Beckham spent his last playing days with Paris Saint-Germain, Cavani’s current club, and could use his contacts there to make the deal happen.
PSG will be looking for its next striker already, and likely won’t want a 33 year-old Cavani hanging around. This deal would make a lot of sense.
Gonzalo Higuain
With Cristiano Ronaldo now at Juventus, Higuain has been pushed further down the pecking order of strikers. He will be on loan at AC Milan for this Serie A season, but what about after that?
He could be the face of the Miami franchise and will be 32 at the start of the 2020 MLS season. Miami has quite a Latin flavor to the city and the Argentine will certainly add to that.
Juan Mata
The Manchester United man has been a prominent figure for his club side since he joined from Chelsea in 2014, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a winger at times. His work can sometimes go under the radar, but he would get the recognition he absolutely deserves by being the DP at Miami.
Mata could feel that he has more years left playing at a high level in Europe, but the opportunity to be the face of a franchise could be too good to pass up.
David Luiz
Yes, not every DP has to be an attacking midfielder or a striker. After all, defense is the best form of attack, right? David Luiz is known for his ability to play the ball out from the back as well as a deadly free kick.
Teams can have up to three DPs at a time and having a strong presence in the back would be a very wise investment indeed. Luiz will eventually be on the outs at Chelsea and where better for Sideshow Bob’s doppelgänger to continue his career than Miami?
Olivier Giroud
France’s World Cup target man doesn’t have long left at Chelsea with his current contract situation and might find a change of scenery refreshing. The physicality of MLS would also suit him too.
He can be a frustrating figure if he is on your team, but he is also a reliable goalscorer and can hold the ball up well. No matter what system Miami plays in, Giroud would certainly represent a dynamic option.