World 3, MLS 0

It was a bad night for Major League Soccer clubs involved in international matches, as Chicago lost in the SuperLiga Cup final and New York was booted from the CONCACAF Champions League. Then, there was the exhibition in Seattle.

In the third annual SuperLiga, Mexican club Tigres defeated MLS's Chicago Fire 4-3 on penalty kicks after the Cup final finished 1-1 AET.

New York, meanwhile, lost the away leg of their home-and-home with T&T side W Connection 2-1 and were bounced 4-3 on aggregate from the CCL.

Finally, European champs Barcelona filleted the Sounders 4-0 due to the "strange alchemy" of Lionel Messi.

Daily Star: Henry to snub EPL for MLS

According to The Daily Star Sunday, a British tabloid (so take it with a hunk of salt), Barcelona striker Thierry Henry will refuse a move back to the English Premier League in favor of a "£5million-a-year deal in America's Major Soccer League."

In dollars, it would be nearly $10 million per year, so any deal would need to be structured similarly to Beckham's (meaning Henry would essentially be paid by sponsors and would own a sizable chunk of future profits made off his image, etc.). Again, this is probably rubbish, but I'm sure there are 16 teams, their front offices, fans, even the water boys hoping to see the Frenchman in their colors.

Any chance Barca deal could include goody basket?

Major League Soccer signed a marketing partnership with FC Barcelona this week, creating a two-way brand hawking agreement that also includes a U.S. match tour by the Spanish giants in 2008. As per usual, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A strategic marketing partnership is nice, but is there any way that FC Barcelona can throw MLS a few players. Maybe use MLS as a secondary reserve squad, an offseason proving ground or for older players who would be sold off anyway? I'm not suggesting they would send over Lionel Messi, but what about a player like Edmilson whose contract will end this year.

The 31-year-old Brazilian defender was linked to a move to Newcastle already, but given Barca's new strategic partnership, maybe we could work out a deal. He might be a nice fit for struggling Chivas USA who have struggled in defense, allowing a league-high 15 goals in seven matches (LA also has allowed 15 goals but doesn't have the payroll space).

Or for those of you afraid of old Brazilians (Denilson-phobia) might I suggest MLS politely asking for a couple of youngsters from Barcelona B. They will probably decline, but we might be able to get a player or two on loan since the MLS season doesn't really interfere with the bulk of the Spanish football season. Perhaps, Israeli striker Gai Assulin, 17, would be interested in playing stateside for a few months.