Expansion

David Beckham's Miami expansion partner Marcelo Claure: "The most Latin city" in US needs a soccer team

Marcelo Claure and David Beckham during a Miami Heat game

Last week, David Beckham (above, right) reiterated his commitment to bring an MLS team to Miami. On Wednesday, it was the turn of his partner, Marcelo Claure (above, left).


The Bolivian-born businessman, who recently became CEO of telecommunications company Sprint, spoke about the project during an appearance on Univision's morning program Despierta America on Wednesday.


"We have a new project which is the purchase of a soccer team for Miami," Claure said. "We are partners with David Beckham and even with all the problems that we've had with Miami politics when it comes to stadiums, I believe that we are in the final stages of making some important announcements, because it's a very important goal for me that Miami has a soccer team."


Claure, who lives in Miami and also owns Bolivian soccer giants Bolivar, has been part of Beckham's pursuit of a team in Miami ever since the former LA Galaxy star announced he would be exercising his option to create an expansion team back in February.



Beckham told Bloomberg Television on Sept. 10 that despite recent setbacks in the pursuit of a site for a soccer stadium in the city, "Miami will happen."


Claure's comments indicated a similar determination to make Miami's return to MLS a reality. And he explained why he's so focused to make it a reality.


"It can't be that the most Latin city in this country doesn’t have a soccer team," he told Despierta America. "My job is to make sure to change this."