Romario to Play for Miami FC in the USL....

Former Brazil striker Romario will join United States club Miami FC for a six-month loan, his present club Vasco da Gama said on Thursday.

The 40-year-old striker, who claims to have scored 964 goals, stood with his arms folded and refused to comment as Vasco president Eurico Miranda made the announcement during a media conference.

"Romario will return to the club after this period to take part in the Brazilian championship and, after that, we will discuss whether he will end his career or keep playing," said the cigar-smoking Miranda.

Romario, top scorer in last year's Brazilian championship with 22 goals, had failed to turn up for training with Vasco during the previous two weeks.

Before that, he had bitterly criticised his team mates in a 2-0 defeat by Cabofriense and said they had made "schoolboy errors".

Miami FC are not involved in the MLS, the main U.S. soccer championship, taking part instead in the less prestigious United Soccer Leagues (USL).

The move could help Romario, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and also played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Valencia, to achieve his target of scoring 1,000 goals.

Brazilian media have widely questioned the total of 964, saying it includes youth team matches, reserve team matches and training sessions billed as friendlies.

Miami FC are due to play 28 games during the regular USL season, giving Romario an excellent chance to boost his total.

"When Romario scores 35 goals, he must stop," said Miranda. "I'm sure that Romario's 1,000th goal will be scored wearing a Vasco shirt here at Sao Januario."

It seems he's not to happy about it then! So is the USL like the Championship almost? If you win it do you go into the MLS?

Well the USL is below the MLS as far as play goes, but we don't have relagation or teams getting promoted. Our leagues aren't structured that way, they are more for player devolpment and the MLS keeps an open eye to players that they feel can play in the league and will then purchase the player....

The ultimate goal for an American player is to play for the National team (obviuosly), the MLS, or to go abroad with the last two mentioned (MLS & abroad) being used to become a better player and get chosen to play for the US National side.......

Oh right that's cool.

If the sport continues its growth in America I wonder if the USL will merge with MLS much like the AFL/NFL, NHL/WHL, etc. did in the past. Some teams would have to fold but I'd rather have one 'big' league with a presence in all the major markets than having it split like it is now.

I don't that's in the plans for right now, we may see the MLS goe to just one division before we see any type of merger though.