‘DO WHAT IT TAKES!’ Could Griezmann, Ramos and De Bruyne transfer to MLS? 👀 | ESPN FC

The Futbol Americas duo of Seb Salazar and Herc Gomez talk about reports linking European football stars Antoine Griezmann, Kevin De Bruyne & Sergio Ramos to Major League Soccer teams and how feasible their transfers are to MLS.
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[@Orion4976]

Griezmann will be the perfect replacement for Messi at inter miami after the WC 2026, which is when Messi retires and Grizzie leaves Atleti.

[@SWARM_747]

Finally, players going to the other clubs. Listen, I'm a huge Messi fan, but I did not like that every person going to MLS was only going to Inter Miami...

[@dekismokton2407]

Griezman is the heart of the French team, the real catch!

[@davidday2373]

Giroud?

[@Nemophilist850]

_"this guy is probably used to playing 65, 70 games a season for City..."_ He's never played more than 52 games in a season for City. Rodri, who plays basically every game, has never played more than 56.

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

Rodri played 56 games last year, missing 2 EPL games, one UCL game, and missed one FA Cup/EFL Cup game

[@edwardmiracle5031]

And all MLS teams travel so far to get their away game. They travel almost a continent from north to south, from east to west, the thing that only done by European tems in Champions league

[@Nemophilist850]

@@PhilliesNostalgia Yeah you're right.

[@BobbyMarley718]

Griezman inst coming until he cant get a contract in a good team in Europe. He's still good enough to play in the UCL.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

How many times have we heard this lol...

[@A_r78]

He’s a group stage merchant

[@louisestrada1356]

We'll take all those guys here in San Diego! 😬

[@samueldobleaoficial]

That NM United jersey is 🔥 next time you should do El Paso Locomotive ☝️

[@ZeroFamilon]

MLS really isn't breaking the retirement league stigma when they keep bringing in European league talent that is 35+. MLS needs more guys like Cucho, Puig, Almada, and Bounga. Younger, hungrier players that could be playing at a decent level in Europe even if they aren't World Class. Talent in MLS needs to improve from the bottom-up not the top-down. Too many low quality players, especially in defensive positions, in the league.

[@drazc]

MLS is much aware of that. look at inter miami, the kids are doing well if messis around. i think the seniors from europe can help shape the mls kids

[@AquaBnBMarbella]

The MLS has really improved in the last 2 decades, especially the last decade. Liga MX use to hogg all the Concacaf and Conmebol signings now they dont. The MLS dominates this market now in Concacaf. 2 decades ago this league wasnt even in the top 30 leagues in the world. It broke top 20 about 10+ yrs ago for the first time. Then made top 15 5 yrs ago. Now its actually top 10 for the first time ever this year according to Opta league quality rankings. Im Swiss and watch the swiss league. 20 yrs ago MLS was a worse level. Now this season its easily way higher level than the Swiss league. Swiss league is always around 10th to 12th ranked in Europe. I would say right now only the top 5 European leagues plus Portugal Netherlands Belgium are better in Europe. The MLS is a better level than the rest. Its mainly because you bring in more money now as you have bigger sponsors and the tv rights there now are huge. I think its 6th biggest tv rights deal in the world at the minute because they bought in Messi Busi Alba in 1 window drastically improved their deal. Only Top 5 leagues in Europe have better. Therefore bigger wages and transfer budgets. I would say after they host Copa America and WC it will show the world they can do a great job for the sport. WC USA 1994 is ranked in the top 5 best World Cups to be ever played its definitely one of my favorites. The Copa America they hosted in 2016 which Chile won was also one of the best ever Copa America events. Football is growing in the US at a rapid pace and should over take NHL MLB and NBA eventually. Probably wont surpass NFL. But the numbers are getting closer every yr. They are almost tied with NHL now and MLB isnt that far off either.

[@SIMPson_69]

True but who would want to play for MLS? They would definitely opt for European clubs for sure.

[@andrewnogen5000]

One thing holding MLS back from keeping any young players in their prime is because of the salary cap and DP rule. Most teams don’t want to spend for that 3rd or 4th DP, which limits the amount of lucrative contracts that could be handed out. Any homegrown MLS player that breaks out would be under a small contract and after their contract is up, the money they could get in other leagues is far more than they can get in MLS, even if they become a DP.

[@aaronnilestoussaint5672]

@@SIMPson_69 many its just the MLS hasnt handled itself to compete that way. If MLS fixed its salary issue and they could pay better many people would. Look at those European footballers they want to be seen like American Athletes. Theyre obessed with NBA players because they want the US lifestyle.

[@ZlatanT9]

Galaxy needs Ramos more than Griezmann. Plus he’d probably want to be at LAFC with his 🇫🇷 buddies

[@HABIBi01272]

De bruyne gonna stay at city, Ramos possibility to Miami since Miami doesn’t buy any other defenders

[@diegothelonely7157]

Griezman has stated he want to go to Los Angeles with Carlos Vela. If they resign Vela he’s going to LAFC

[@armingleiner5292]

MLS needs to adapt the normal league model with relegation and different league tiers. What a bad system they have now...

[@joshuasimmons8160]

What an unbelievable concept you came up with. Surly this hasn't been the most discussed topic in American soccer

[@Chudsic]

genius what ever would we do without you

[@palatialslumlord4938]

Will never happen, it was purposely set up the way it is by the American team owners because they obviously never want to be relegated. In America, money & corruption always rule the day.

[@benoitwaffle5439]

MLS has had eight different champions in the past ten years. Liga MX has had ten different champions, though that consists of twenty seasons. Argentina has had four champions in the past ten and Brazil has had five. If you cross the Atlantic, PSG has won 10 of the last 12 in France. Man City is about to go 6 of the last 7 and 7 of the last 11 in England. Real Madrid and Barca have won 9 of the last 10 in Spain. Celtic have won 12 of the last 13 in Scotland. Bayern's 11 year streak was broken this year in Germany. Only one team has won the Portuguese title outside their Big 3 since 1946. That sounds like a great model they have over there where the same teams win every year, but hey they swap out the bums so it isn't the Washington Generals they beat every year.

[@armingleiner5292]

@@benoitwaffle5439 So you want mediocrity to be rewarded and success to be punished? The whole draft system is artificial just like NASCAR where they make it totally artificial and random just for the "show". Professional sport isnt WWE, it should be based on merit. If one team is the best, it is on all the other teams to catch up. This communism in sports is very unamerican I must say.

[@josesamayoa2734]

They want to come to the MLS for the pay and spend their money earned during their prime. Not so much for the “quality” of the MLS

[@davidt3956]

They've been spoiled since childhood for playing a game. They're scared to move onto the next phase in their lives, so they come to a retirement league for a few more games.

[@eavyeavy2864]

​@@davidt3956seethe worker

[@CrimsonRoblox]

Sergio Ramos can just move to Inter Miami to boost their defense. KDB and Griezmann somewhere else.

[@GinaSigillito]

Griezmann would love NYC. I can see him there.

[@ft9kop]

There are plenty of francophones in NYC to keep Griezemann company

[@jasonklavender1]

It would be nice to see a striker head to Houston where the Dynamo need one. It's not like Houston isn't the fourth largest city in the country but people don't wanna play for the Dynamo.

[@BlazingIceVR]

Frrrr I’m from Houston and grizou is my favorite player I want him to comeeee

[@andrewroberts7428]

MLS has to get rid of turf fields leaguewide, all teams have to play every game on real grass

[@davidday2373]

All Euro leagues should have Salary Caps and Playoffs.

[@andrewroberts7428]

@@davidday2373 i've got some feces you can eat, it's american

[@Northwest360]

Why would he go to galaxy when his pals are at LAFC?

[@gerardMcNulty]

San Diego would be smart to become Real Madrid west like Miami has become Barca west … pay Ramos pay Marcelo pay modric beg Toni kross to play just one year out his family up ask him how he would like to live in Southern California take his kids to Disneyland and what an incredible game San Diego versus inter Miami a few times a year could be

[@davidday2373]

In a tangentially related way, LAFC keeps adding French dudes, including National Team guys (Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, Maxime Chanot). We're building a runway to land Griezmann.. and eventually Mbappe (wink)

[@gonpow]

Id like to see ramos stay at sevilla that team needs to gdt better but he may have 3-4 more years hes a specimen

[@dalymufc]

You need players to go too other teams not just let miami cheat with eveey top player and wages.

[@kartikeyupreti007]

Oh you mean bayern and bhundesliga ?

[@davidday2373]

@@kartikeyupreti007 No, more like PSG and Ligue 1

[@joseromo299]

My goat is retiring at Atletico

[@Spheterix]

Nice joke lol

[@KrishnaDas-il9vu]

De Bruyne shouldn't leave Europe yet, he should join MLS After at least three years. Modric should join MLS. For me, personally- it's too early for Griezmann at MLS in his career, hope it'll not happen right now at least, he should join Serie A or premier league other than certain clubs like City, Liverpool and Arsenal. Love to see Di Maria in MLS.

[@miracleanakpade3568]

Keep dreaming

[@ThePurplenurple91]

The fact that the people in San Diego (my self included) troll on their posts on IG, reveal Benzema Signing Reveal Neymar signing and yet this Sergio Ramos signing might actually be true 😂😂😂

[@davidday2373]

I mostly care about the Chucky Lozano signing with SD.

[@In_my_own_mind]

MLS? The 15th ranked league in the world, even behind the Danish league? Its not like its for the money, so why would KDB who plays for one of the bests teams in the world and in the most lucrative league in the world, go to such a poor league? I dont know ho much KDB earns but Haaland's salary alone is more than all but two MLS teams' entire annual salary.

[@DaGabbaGangsta]

Why on earth would KDB want to go to MLS ?

[@rotm8050]

He definitely would but maybe in 2-3 years

[@UnitedFerrariLakers]

He most likely will move to MLS after Manchester city.

[@benoitwaffle5439]

Ah yes, why would a rich athlete want to live in LA or Miami where they can go wherever they want without people bothering them because 95% of the city has no clue who they are and another 4% don't care? Hmm... I can't imagine why? Someone has to investigate all the rich transplants from all over the world in those cities to get an answer.

[@LeoAngelG10]

​@@benoitwaffle5439fr bro those cites are cool and live in

[@DaGabbaGangsta]

@@benoitwaffle5439 level of football !!!!!!

[@CobraChicken101]

KDB loves the US, but there is a 0% chance he'll move there. Altho the US would be 100% a better choice than Saoudi Arabia or China to cash in and slow down, it seems you dont know KDB, thinking he would want less 😂, he would get bored. Kevin is either all in or not at all. He will stay with city untill his retirement and after that he will leave football. Altho he would be a great manager , it is not his plan. He doesnt like it. My bet his plan is to go into banking, this is not a joke. He's mentionned this and is very interested in good and ethical investments and stock markets etc. And will start or join an investmentfirm. I've been following him since he was 17 and played for my local team Genk. greetz from Belgium 😂

[@Rigonidas]

Stop spending so much money on washed players if you want people to take the league seriously.

[@davidday2373]

Who are you talking about? You probably have the wrong impression on how much these "European stars" get paid in MLS. Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini joined LAFC on "TAM" contracts, they weren't even "Designated Players" (bigger salary players). LAFC is paying Hugo Lloris HALF of what our previous GK is now earning with his new team. Olivier Giroud will command a "DP" contract, but ZERO spent in Transfer Fees (for a guy who is the 3rd leading scorer in Serie A).

[@Rigonidas]

@@davidday2373 Chiellini is literally one of the top paid players on that team. He is about to be 40 years old. Out of his prime 8 years ago. Giroud Is 37. Washed players. Not worth those salaries.

[@davidday2373]

​@@Rigonidas Chielini was not a "DP." It's only the "DP's" that make the bigger money in MLS. His salary was 6th on the team in 2023, he is now on LAFC's Coaching Staff. He was out of his prime, sure, but he was Captain at Juventus in 2021-22. Chiellini was honored along with Mbappe, Ronaldo, Haaland, Benzema, on the "UEFA Team of the Year" (IFFHS) in 2021. He joined LAFC in 2022, just one year later. The point is that LAFC did not over-spend just to have a "big name/Euro star", nor did LAFC pull some old guy out of his rocking chair. LAFC was in 1st place when Chiellini and Bale joined in the summer of 2022. And we're grateful they helped us win MLS Cup that year.

[@davidday2373]

@@Rigonidas P.S. And Giroud? He just scored his 15th Goal of the season the other day, making him the 3rd Highest Goal-scorer in Serie A for 2023-24, and was "Best XI" for Week 8 in Serie A as a Goalkeeper (LOL). He was won the "Bronze Boot" of FIFA WC 2022. "Washed up", really?

[@inlivingcolor...abroad6099]

Does Herc realize Galaxy do not have any DP spots left? Paintsill, Pec, and Puig all take the spots

[@voiceout001]

Retirement League for ageing bones from Europe. If it helps and advance the league a lil bit, so be it 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@davidday2373]

Olivier Giroud is "retiring" to LAFC/MLS in July... he scored his 15th Goal of the season for AC Milan just the other day, to make him the 3rd leading scoring in Serie A. We're paying $ZERO in Transfer Fees for Milan's top scorer/Serie A's 3rd top scorer within the same calendar year. Do people think Giroud's quality will drop off a cliff in 1 and a half months?!??

[@UPTIMUPRIME]

GIROUD MADE IT😂😂😂😂TO LA WOW THE FACT HES IN MLS IS ENOUGH FOR ME.

[@davidday2373]

Giroud is the 3rd leading scorer in Serie A, he just scored the other day. And he'll be in MLS in about a month and a half. They can call it a "retirement league" all they want.

[@_dybaIa]

end of an era

[@istvanszabo8698]

City needs KDB for some more years. He is the insurance of City's success.

[@LeoAngelG10]

He mighg leave then city will sign writz

[@ZlatanT9]

De Bruyne to NYCFC in 2026/2027 🙌

[@davidday2373]

Mbappe to LAFC by 2028 Pulisic to Chicago Fire in 2027

[@UnitedFerrariLakers]

Why not?

[@ofenomeno1381]

Mls is great for world players to retire once they play on great European leagues, then come here where its a cake walk

[@samogotamo]

No matter how many big names MLS signs I will never pay for Apple TV plus because of the league structure and the way that Don Garber has totally disregarded the US Open Cup. Until MLS does pro rel and fully participates in the US Open Cup; I will continue watching football abroad.

[@tomassanchez5017]

Great NM United (Meow Wolf) jersey.

[@mattchristopher2039]

Did you say put giezman at the 6? What? When has that EVER happened?

[@kingof206]

De bruyne is still too good to leave city. He has another few years at the highest level.

[@agn855]

_"…Real Madrid is a big brand"_ …the understatement of the century 😂

[@leonardobonilla4866]

Griezzman wants to go to MLS . He's said that and it's too perfect for him to go to inter. You build the team around him by resigning campana who is a good MLS striker, get some actual defenders and let the man cook . It makes sense because he's idolized Beckham and playing for his team would probably be a dream for him

[@cklow100]

I am in total agreement Herc.

[@anp901]

If not for money then MLS is the league they should go to.....

[@Zachary9x_]

KDB and Griezman are still young.. they shouldn’t go to MLS

[@Angel-z2d2v]

Only reason mls is known is for the old european players arriving. Other than that you welcome

[@ethanjohnson8048]

In the next 3 years MLS gonna be the the landing spot for big name players

[@jean-yvesmartin6934]

....to retire..........

[@davidday2373]

Including US National Team guys who are currently in Euro leagues.

[@KevinHernandez-qz8sb]

Need DeBruyne in San Diego badly. 🙏

[@AfroChilanGringo]

What jersey is Herc wearing? Where can I buy it?

[@Target_man45]

Griezmann is to good for the mls im sorry

[@joel4212]

Charlotte fan here....Ill just stop there.

[@thefred0215]

MLS is becoming a playground for the elite.

[@davidt3956]

BTW, Seb, the Mecca for sports is Mecca, the Saudi League. 🤣

[@raemongill19]

Did they really just say Griezmann could play as a 6????

[@davidbugarin]

Austin FC Welcomes Le Petit Prince 👑 🟢⚫️🟢

[@MBowermaster]

When the wise pundits talk about big name players coming to MLS, without exception you hear comments like “this player will want to go to a big market like LA, Miami, or New York. What do they mean by “big market”? Why aren’t markets like Charlotte or Atlanta considered big markets in this context? If it’s not fans coming to the games, or state of the art stadiums, what is it? Is it proximity to other famous people?

[@donviajero2580]

The later. By big market they mean celebrity culture, not MLS attendance. Not that cities like Atlanta and Nashville don't have a celebrity culture of their own, but these are not as well known in Europe.

[@davidday2373]

The preference for "big markets" was mostly about the sponsorship and marketing opportunities that World cities like NYC and L.A. could offer the individual player (outside of the team contract/salary). But things have changed. Those kinds of off-the-field opportunities are less and less dependent on being in NYC, per se. Honestly, who's eager to go to New York anymore? Patrick Mahomes is a superstar and he's in Kansas City (20 years ago Eli Manning, essentially, forced his way out of the San Diego Chargers so that he can go to the New York Giant). Now-a-days people still use that saying "big market", but it has less validity AND it just has a different meaning now. It's more a matter of preferred "lifestyle"... L.A. and Miami are preferable compared to Chicago and Houston, for example.

[@davidday2373]

@@donviajero2580 Who's choosing New York anymore? Across all sports, NYC is not the "destination city" it used to be. The advantages that being in the "Media Mecca" used to offer a Pro athlete are no longer that dependent on "being in NYC". Luka in Dallas, Joker in Denver, Greek Freak in Milwaukee, Embiid in Philly, none of those NBA Superstars are beating down the door to go to the NY Knicks or Nets. Pat Mahomes in Kansas City, he's not looking to joing the Jets/Giants.

[@Pudge415]

NM UNITED!!!🎉

[@derickaby1731]

excited for a league full of retirees

[@dunno558]

Ramos is great but he is too old now and wont be able to catch up with a regular youngsters..its a fact.

[@donviajero2580]

His stats from this past season at Sevilla are pretty impressive. As they noted in this video, he led or was at the top of La Liga in multiple categories. Ramos is far from washed up.

[@germanvilla9174]

I want to see Antoine and the Mexican league the major league soccer is way too boring. Seriously I tried giving it so many chances to focus on the crowds. Their crowds are way too Americanized just plain no culture maybe Los Angeles it’s all right decent

[@BennieHanssen]

MLS retirement league 😂😁

[@LeoAngelG10]

Saudi money league retirement camels

[@soccerguy4849]

But some of your euro favorites went back to Europe to continue their careers after MLS. Sooo you can’t call it a retirement league no more.

[@DungTran-kk6en]

Camel toe

[@ShinmaMumei]

Signing legitimate gloabal stars in their late thirties perpetuates the advertisement by the MLS that they are a donkey league.

[@davidt3956]

More things to confirm the MLS is a retirement league. "They've gone younger" says Herc while saying they should sign an over-the-hill player to keep this a retirement league.

[@tripperdelaluna1]

A quick google search says the average age in MLS is 26. The average age in the Premier League is 26. Liga MX 28 for better perspective. NFL 26, NBA 26, MLB 29. MLS is a pretty young league - they just bring in the old Europeans to put butts in seats and sell shirts.

[@Dashiki7467]

MLS sucks

[@LeoAngelG10]

Bro like his own comment

[@LeoAngelG10]

Saudi is money league football>>money leagues

[@DoReply420]

Your 👩🏼 sucks

[@Dashiki7467]

@@LeoAngelG10 actually didn’t… but I would though because MLS does suck.

[@normanhunter7]

MLS has become a retirement home for aging soccer players, and anyways you can't make a silk purse from a pigs ear!

[@germanvilla9174]

In liga Mx honestly MLS IS TO WEAK AND BORING 🥱