Barcelona will submit a bid Wednesday to bring a Major League Soccer franchise back to South Florida.

The Spanish soccer club is partnering with Marcelo Claure, a Miami resident and owner of FC Bolivar.

The deal would make FC Barcelona the first club in Europe to have a direct tie to MLS.

Miami had an MLS team, the Fusion, from 1998-2001.

In July, MLS plans to add two expansion teams in time for the 2011 season, boosting membership to 18. The 14-team league already has announced expansion plans for Seattle in 2009 and Philadelphia in 2010.