Portuguese star midfielder Luis Figo will join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on a 17 month long contract. Why do we, as American soccer fans, care, did you say? You should care because Figo was one of the many international superstars rumored to be coming to MLS under the new “Beckham Rule” allowing owners to use their own money over the salary cap to acquire big-name talent. While the Figo rumors may just have been that, his deal with Al-Ittihad could start/resume a trend, which would be unfortunate for MLS: players choosing middle Eastern clubs with big pockets, especially clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, over other markets. For the David Beckhams of the world, who might be attracted by Hollywood or the American lifestyle, MLS is an attractive option. However, we are sure to lose out on the players who are only in it for the dollar signs.