David Beckham has gone on the public record to say that he no longer wants to fulfill his contract with the MLS soccer team the LA Galaxy and would like, instead, to remain in Milan, Italy where he is currently on loan to AC Milan. In new comments published today, Becks has revealed that he no longer wishes to play soccer in the US and would like to remain in Europe after his loan out period to Milan has expired:
David Beckham said he wants to make his move to AC Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy permanent. The England midfielder’s three-month loan to the Italian soccer club ends March 9 and Milan has said it wants to keep him at the San Siro stadium. “I have expressed my desire to stay at AC Milan now and it’s just down to Milan and Galaxy to come to an agreement,” Beckham said in comments broadcast by Sky Sports. “I have enjoyed my time here. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much and do as well as I have.” The 33-year-old player joined Milan last month to stay in shape during the U.S. soccer offseason. He’s scored two goals in five appearances for the team known as the Rossoneri. The Major League Soccer season begins on March 22. “At the moment I’m still a Galaxy player,” Beckham said after an exhibition match last night against Glasgow Rangers. “It’s out of my hands. I’ve said what my feelings are to both clubs and now it’s down to them to come to an agreement.” Beckham joined the Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007. He earns $5.5 million a year and the five-year contract could be worth as much as $250 million with endorsements and profit- sharing, according to the Galaxy. Galaxy spokesman Justin Pearson said in a telephone interview that the team was practicing and wouldn’t have any comment until coach and general manager Bruce Arena sees Beckham’s quotes. Andrew Messick, the sports division president of Anschutz Co.’s AEG, which owns the Galaxy, said he has seen Beckham’s comments to European television and declined to comment on them, or whether the club would entertain offers from AC Milan. “He’s a great player and a great ambassador, and someone we’ve had a very, very close relationship with,” Messick said in a telephone interview. “We hope and expect that we’re going to continue to have a great relationship with him.” Milan general manager Adriano Galliani said on the club’s Web site yesterday that Beckham’s lawyers are in talks with the Galaxy over the player’s future. Milan has yet to make an offer or enter into negotiations, he said. “It’s nothing against the MLS and the football over there because it’s a game that will grow, but it will take quite a few years,” Beckham said. The former Manchester United player said he wants to stay in Italy to boost his chances of retaining a place in the national team for next year’s World Cup. Beckham has played 107 times for England, the third-most after Peter Shilton and World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. “I want to have a chance of being involved in 2010,” Beckham said. “My best chance of doing that is to remain here.”
Firstly, I have to stress that I am still a David Beckham fan and I still absolutely lurve him … BUT, I must express my dissatisfaction at his desire to abandon his commitment to the LA Galaxy for greener pastures in Italy. I seem to recall that when David Beckham came to the US, there weren’t many teams out there who were clamoring to nab him as their own. His lackluster performance on the soccer field in the months leading up to the end of his contract in Spain really didn’t do much to make him a sought after soccer player. So, he and his wife Vicki B. decided to take the massive amounts of money (about $250 million) that the LA Galaxy offered him and committed to playing for the team for a set number of years. Upon his arrival (which was already midway thru an entire MLS soccer season), he sat out more than 60% of the games of his first season due to an ankle injury and never really helped the Galaxy improve their overall game (the LA Galaxy remains one of the most unsuccessful teams in the burgeoning MLS league). Having been loaded out to AC Milan, Becks scores two goals and suddenly he’s decided he wants to join the team. Trust me, I get that he wants to end his career in glory but, to me, it seems like he should’ve taken that into account before he committed to US soccer. I have a feeling that Becks thought that his mere presence alone might make Americans care about soccer … and when that didn’t happen, well, he has apparently decided to go back to Europe again. While I am very disappointed and not very happy with his decision, I completely understand it. The Beckhams really didn’t make the splash in Hollywood that they were prolly hoping for. I guess I get why they would want to retreat back to Europe. While I’m a bit miffed now, I’ll get over it … prolly by the time the next back of Armani Underwear ads come out. I suspect that Becks will get his wish and will become an official, full time member of AC Milan soon. I guess it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to revive his glory days after all.
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I’d still jump the man’s bones in a second, but I’m a little peeved about this..I mean, you made a commitment..You should follow through with it..But I’m glad he’s having success in Milan..And I LOVE their jerseys so it almost works out for the best..
Umm trent, his contract with Galaxy was not for $250million for playing..it was a package which included all sorts of things like merchandise, ticket sales etc (also LESS than what madrid paid him altogether). When/if the Milan deal goes through AC will reimburse galaxy that money and galaxy will keep (obv) the hundreds of millions that theyve made off becks. (you should look into their financial records, youll find theyve posted an increased earning of 230% since becks signed on).
Also, you’re wrong in saying that when becks signed on to galaxy European teams were’nt clamoring for him. if you had followed football BEFORE becks signed on to galaxy you would know tha Man City and Chelsea both wanted to sign him (for much more money than galaxy, i might add)
Furthermore, as Becks has stated himself repeatedly, one of the main reasons that he was never able to get on form in the states was because we play on turf and not natural pitch (which is intl standard). For anyone whose ever played a sport its easy to understand how difficult it is to switch pitches.
Anyway, while you obviously aren’t pleased that Becks want to leave I think it would be quite useful if you educated yourself on the matter at hand before writing rather detailed and opinionated posts about it.
@Kell how about you can STFU and write your own blog, mr. know it all lol
@dan how about you STFU or come up with a real response?
@Kell – Woah.
I guess we know why Becks came to L.A. (not that we ever wondered): it was to establish a profile for himself and Vicky in the States. Now that he’s done so, it’s back to Europe. No matter what he says about natural turf versus artificial turf, the quality of American play versus European play, that’s all beside the point. But Vicky seems to like it here: why should she live in Milan where she’ll be overshadowed by the real fashionistas?
meh, they can have him; especially, if Galaxy is able to recoup $$. Just as long as we get to see more pics of him in his undies and men grabbing his butt, I really don’t care if he leaves our great city.
@Kell: You can “educate” people without coming across as a complete tool.
I personally saw this coming, unforuinitly football is just not as big in the U.s. and Canada. (to my dismay) The fact is, he has and will do better in Eurpoe. That said, I think he made his bed and should lie in it. He had to know that football was not a big sport in the U.S. He made a commitment to a team and he should honor that commitment!
I hope one day he will be back to a European team, where his talent can be appreciated! Also, hopfully one day football will be relized as THE BEST SPORT KNOW TO MAN! Even here!
NOOO BECKS DONT GO!!!
PS- You guys should check out my new video “WOMANHATER”, a parody of Brit’s Womanizer. Its pretty funny and is pretty catch too! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtWUKtivUM4
my guess is that he realized the huge difference between sports in the US and Europe, especially in terms of football (sorry – soccer) and being back in europe made him realize that playing with a european team is just more comfortable for him
@kk — my guess is that if more MLS players touched him on the ass more, he’d feel just as comfortable here in the US.
I think it’s really sad how soccer isn’t popular in the US when it’s popular… everywhere else in the world. My mother played for 11 years when she was younger, and my brother and I enjoy and play the game both on teams and for fun… as well as watching.
As for Becks, I cannot blame him, the US would rather watch… the super bowl then the world cup. *sigh*
Umm, did you actually see any of his last few months at Madrid? He was quite possibly the main reason they actually won La Liga at the end of that season. He got dropped by Capello (then Real’s manager) because he’d signed a contract with LA which to Capello meant he wasn’t committed to the Real cause…his dedication & hard work in training etc, even when told he’d never play again for Capello again, changed Capello’s mind & he played him for the last few months of that season & he played extremely well (perhaps the best he’d done in Spain).
Football contracts are not absolute ties to a club (just look at the Ronaldo saga between Real & Man Utd or the recent almost selling of Kaka to Man City from Milan.) So long as the dealing is between the two clubs & are open about it & agree on fees & compensation with regards to remaining time on a contract & the worth of the player etc then it’s all ok & happens all the time in football. LA would be well advised to sell him now when they can get some money rather than wait til he enacts some clause in his contract to go for free or goes on the Bosman ruling (that rule being that he goes for free too.) Players, not the clubs, are very well protected by the rules of the game when it comes to contracts & moving clubs when under contract.
Yes it’s a little disappointing but I understand that there is no way he will be happy back in the MLS now that he has tasted the highest level of the game again. It’s not about Hollywood or the money, he wants to be part of the World Cup team and he will not be picked if he’s not playing in Europe. Why should he be miserable in the MLS when he can be working to get on the England team?
It’s more likely that the LA Galaxy made more money off him than they paid him Trent and their part of the deal was most certainly NOT $250 million.
I don’t blame him, galaxy is a sucky team.
This happens in sports all the time, nothing new. Players sign for teams and promise the world and they either move for a better deal or the team cuts them to save money and buy better players.
Seriously, do you actually think him seeing out his contract will grow soccer in the US? He’ll serve the game better playing at the highest level with the best players.
Why do I think Kell is my “football” crazed British fiance…? J/K. Kell sounds like he/she knows she/he is talking about.
Soccer will never be big here like in Europe. I am sure he found it disheartening here plus that crazy Tom Cruise kept following him around.
Chill out Kell, Trent’s just quoting from the article.
I think it’s hard on his kids being dragged around the world to different schools all the time, yes I know they are worth millions, but they are still kids who have to survive at school and make new friends each time. I think it’s selfish when sports stars put their careers before their families, and its not like they need the money.
Bye Becks. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Looks like some season tickets will be going unused…
It sucks that he wants to leave L.A. BUT as much as it hurts, he better leave, now! I would hate for us to have to keep a player who DOESN’T want to be here.
Bye, David!
You’re still hot ;-)