More and more teams are becoming intrigued with Major League Soccer as the league continues to develop, and one of the world’s biggest clubs could be next on the list to get involved.
In an interview with Sports Business Daily, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge talked about the prospect of teaming up with an MLS side, stating that European teams have an “obligation” to help grow soccer in the United States.
However, the Bayern chief didn’t reveal any potential MLS teams the club would be interested in doing business with.
“Maybe we have to think about how we can partner with U.S. teams from the MLS, to support them and show them how business is run in Germany and at Bayern,” Rummenigge said.
“We, in Europe, have to be interested in helping U.S. soccer grow up,” he continued. “Maybe sometimes we have to do more in their favor. There could be an exchange of talent or coaches. We have to have an interest in U.S. soccer to help them and not just come here to cash in.”
Bayern is currently in the U.S. training and participating in the International Champions Cup ahead of the new Bundesliga season, which begins August 26 against Werder Bremen.
While Premier League giants Manchester City have created a number of networks globally, which includes MLS side New York City FC, Rummenigge says that Bayern isn’t interesting in running different clubs in various countries.
Instead, Bayern is set on establishing two major markets in the U.S. and China. The reigning Bundesliga champions opened an office in New York City back in 2014, and the club is set to open its second international office in Shanghai this September.
“We are thinking about doing a partnership here in the States with a club and in China as well,” said Rummenigge. “Because what they don’t have so much is the know-how. In this area a club like ours is strong.”