Look out Major League Soccer. Look out United States.
The Premier League’s most mercurial Malaysian, while declaring his support for potential Cardiff manager Russell Slade, announced he intends to invest in Major League Soccer.
Quite the timing for such an announcement, given the recent news that Chivas USA will take a two-year hiatus from MLS play while they complete a rebrand under currently unknown new ownership.
“I’m looking to buy another club in Europe and then I may invest in a club in the US, the MLS,” Tan told reporters while also saying he hopes Cardiff and current Leyton Orient manager Slade can come to an agreement.
Tan would definitely bring a new personality to “the MLS” and despite many people questioning his ability to effectively lead a functional soccer organization, Tan believes his love for the sport gives him an edge.
“If I sell Cardiff I would buy another club in the UK,” said Tan. “I love football now. I’ve got a club in Sarajevo. The fans are fantastic, the people who run the club [Cardiff City] are incredible, honest people. They really motivate me.”
Tan’s talk of selling Cardiff would be only if they returned to the Premier League, said the BBC report.
It’s unclear what Tan’s motivations or plans are for coming to the United States are, but at this point it just appears to be speculation on his part.
Tan was questioned by the media and fans for his handling of the club during its short stint in the Premier League, clashing with former manager Malky Mackay over club spending and coming under fire for his sacking of successful director of recruitment Iain Moody and replacing him with a family friend who had never worked in soccer before.
Even his potential hiring of Slade has been filled with controversy. Cardiff made an inquiry to Leyton Orient about replacing Ole Gunnar Solksjaer with Slade, but the League One club said no. Slade then felt wronged, so he submitted his resignation. The 53-year-old is still under contract with Orient, but according to Tan the two sides are now working to settle the situation and send him to Cardiff.
