Spanish soccer power FC Barcelona has signed CAA Sports to represent it in the U.S. in several areas, including extending the club’s slogan — “More Than a Club” — and advising it during the MLS expansion process.

The partnership, which began in February, could expand further if FC Barcelona is awarded an MLS expansion team in Miami. Should that happen, CAA Sports would be involved in the development of that franchise, said FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta.

Image of CAA Headquarters in Century City via Flickr

-17,000 Season Tickets sold so far, 63 Corporate Suites reserved, $20 million sponsorship with Microsoft.

-Next month begins open tryouts, to be filmed for a Joe Roth produced reality show, concluding with a final tryout to be shown live on February 1st following the Super Bowl. Viewers will be able to select the three finalists.

-Today’s Seattle Times is reporting the Sounders are close to announcing the signing of Swedish midfielder and sometime model, Freddie Ljungberg as their Designated Player.

-Perhaps the Sounders are benefiting from the NBA dropping the ball in the city…

Image via Flickr

If a team could play its best XI for the entire season, with no injuries, no international absences, and no congestions issues due to non-league games, how would the top MLS team—take your pick, Columbus, Houston, New England—do in the Premier League?

Greg Lalas asks a couple guys who know both leagues well, Darren Huckerby and Paul Mariner…

Image via Pbase

I’ve known Oscar Pareja know for ten years and this is what he was meant to do after his amazing playing career.

I can’t even begin to tell you how far ahead these kids are from when I was their age.  If you think about the level of play and where today’s players are at physically, mentally and technically compared to when I came into the league with Project-40 back in 1997, it’s day and night.

Much respect to FC Dallas for making this a priority within the club.

Hard not to give it Danny Cepero…

Not a bad debut for Danny Cepero.  Not only did he get the win, but he is the first MLS keeper to score a goal. I wonder if he is the first goalkeeper to ever score a goal in his debut game? That can’t have happened very often.

UPDATE: A total of seven cities have submitted bids to MLS today:  Atlanta, Miami, Montreal, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis, and Vancouver. 

Speculation continues at this hour regarding negotiations been the NY Mets ownership group and MLS on a potential stadium site next to the new Mets stadium.  Nothing out of Las Vegas at this point.

According to Goff, MLS will introduce the applicants at 5pm via the MLS website.

Vancouver image via Friendsofsoccer

On October 14, Eugene Melnyk and Senators Sports & Entertainment formally submitted their bid to MLS for an expansion franchise for Ottawa for the 2011 MLS season.

“When we officially launched our bid on Sept. 16, I believed it was imperative that to bring an MLS team to Ottawa and build a stadium of this scope and calibre required, among other things, broad community support,” said Melnyk. “I know we have a strong operational management team and a solid business plan, and now we know the community is behind us.”

Image via BringtheworldtoOttawa