Report: Pujols wants MLS in St. Louis

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ST. LOUIS, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that National League MVP Albert Pujols has joined an effort to bring an MLS expansion franchise to St. Louis.

The newspaper reported that it has identified the slugger as being one of the new investors in a bid by business tycoon Jeff Cooper to bring an MLS team to the Midwest city.

Cooper is the leader of an effort to bring a soccer team to a proposed stadium in suburban Collinsville.

"I am very proud and excited to join the effort to bring Major League Soccer to the St. Louis area," the 28-year-old Pujols said in a statement. "This means a lot to me and my family, as we all love soccer and we believe in MLS."

"Adding Albert to the group is a big step forward along the city's path to a soccer team," Cooper said.

He added that other members of his expanded investment group will be announced later.