Barcelona Deal First Step to Its Own MLS Club?

Barcelona will be returning to the United States this summer as part of a long-term agreement signed Thursday with Major League Soccer. Barca will play a minimum of six games over the term of the five-year agreement that could lead to the Spanish club having a permanent presence in the form of a team in MLS, according to a club executive.

Officials of Soccer United Marketing and Barcelona said the contract also included SUM negotiating the club’s sponsorship rights and handling marketing and p.r. for Barca in the United States.

“If you want to be a global brand, you have to be in the United States,” said FC Barcelona vice chairman Ferran Soriano, the club’s executive responsible for marketing. “We want to have a permanent presence here, and maybe that permanent presence will mean a team here someday.”