Could San Diego FC become the ‘Real Madrid’ of MLS?

San Diego was the latest US city to be granted an MLS franchise with San Diego FC set to participate in the 2025 MLS season and become the 30th team in the league.

The franchise’s ownership group is led by British-Egyptian businessman and former politician Mohamed Mansour and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation (federally recognized Indian tribe) with the team set to play at the Snapdragon Stadium which is currently being used by NWSL side San Diego Wave.

At present the club are heavily involved at fan recruitment, getting sponsors on board, signing strategic partnerships as they have with Liga MX side Xolos, choosing the right manager and critically signing players who will play for the club in their debut season.

The team’s first player, former Loyal SC goalkeeper Duran Ferree, was signed in December 2023 and loaned to Orange County SC for the 2024 season and he has been joined by Danish duo Marcus Ingvartsen and Jeppe Tverskov.

It’s this spotlight on new players though that is propelling the new club into the global limelight as big name players continue to be linked with a move to the Californian city who aim to compete in the Western Conference from their first season.

Former Madrid stars set for San Diego?

Costa Rican international goalkeeper Keylor Navas has been heavily linked with San Diego FC. The veteran keeper who played with the Santiago Bernabeu side between 2014-2019 has been in action this season on loan at Nottingham Forest but confirmed his PSG exit on 11 May.

Sergio Ramos is another player in contention for a move to the 30th MLS franchise despite a solid season with home-town club Sevilla FC. The 38-year-old has been quoted in past expressing his interest to experience MLS before finally hanging up his boots.

Ramos spent 16 years at Real Madrid winning five LaLiga titles and a Champions League winners medals on four occasions.

Despite pleas of ‘Nacho quedate’ (Nacho stay) last weekend from Madrid fans as Carlo Ancelott’s team celebrated the club’s 36th league title, everything points to the versatile defender heading for a Santiago Bernabeu exit this summer.

A move to MLS and San Diego has been cited for the player but recent links with Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen could hamper any plans the franchise have in securing the signature of the 34-year-old.

Croatian veteran midfielder Luka Modric is expected to have a face-to-face meeting with club president Florentino Perez ahead of the Champions League final and the outcome of this conversation will determine where the 38-year-old plays next season. Well connected Cadena Ser journalist Antonio Romero went on the record last week stating that as things stand, ‘both Modric and Toni Kroos are more out of Real Madrid next season that they are in’.

The MLS has always been regarded as an attractive proposition for the Croat and was heavily linked with a move to Inter Miami in the past.