David Beckham is close to formalising an MLS franchise in Miami and could revolutionise the league according to Atlanta United president Darren Eales.
Beckham is awaiting the green light to proceed with his new club in the American League and has already shown his intent by attending the Board of Governors meeting which is equivalent to the Premier League shareholders meeting.
The former England and Manchester United superstar transformed the MLS when he was playing for LA Galaxy and looks set to have another major impact when he starts a new team in Miami.
There have been concerns in America that Miami will fail to attract the support to make them one of the dominant forces in the MLS.
But Eales, who is the former Tottenham executive director and now president of Atlanta United, is adamant he had similar concerns when he went to Atlanta and they are now breaking attendance records.
Eales, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football podcast, said: "I know David from my time at Tottenham, when he trained with us a couple of times hen he came back from America.
"He was actually at the Board of Governors meeting, which is the equivalent of the Premier League shareholders meeting. He’s close to getting the franchise.
"The interesting thing for David is that everyone has been saying that Miami is not a very good soccer town. They’ve had a couple of teams who have folded in the past.
"But I would use Atlanta as a good example. Everybody said that Atlanta wouldn’t succeed with a soccer team. There was an ice hockey team several years ago that folded and people said Atlanta’s not a real sport city.
"Well, we’re now halfway through our season and going to be breaking all the attendance records that the MLS has ever had. And [in terms of attendance] we’re now currently the biggest team outside of the NFL. We're bigger than anyone baseball, basketball or ice hockey team in America."
Beckham has been told to focus on the young generation of soccer fans in America who are not prepared to sit through hours of a baseball game or told when to chant during an NFL game.
Eales added: "I think from David’s view, don’t listen to the naysayers and focus on that younger Millennial group that loves soccer. That’s what’s emerging in America. They love the international aspect and don’t want to sit through four-and-a-half hours of a baseball game.
"They don’t want to be told when to chant during NFL games. They want to own their own fan experience. That’s what he needs to focus on and I’m sure we’ll have a drink or two to chat through it when he finally, officially, gets the franchise.
"He’ll be great for the league. And he was the man who really changed the MLS and the way that they were going. He came in and made a real difference and still makes big news wherever he goes in America."