AC Milan Strikes New Deal With The LA Galaxy To Hang Onto David Beckham
It looks like David Beckham really can have his cake and eat it, too. In a last minute deal with the LA Galaxy, AC Milan has successfully brokered a deal with the MLS team to keep Beckham in their employ until the Italian soccer season ends in May. After that, Becks is said to return to SoCal to finish out the rest of the MLS soccer season with the LA Galaxy and then buy out his contract with the team and return to Europe once again:
If you wanted to find David Beckham on Monday, then the fashionable Via Poerio Carlo in Milan was the place to look. There, in the altogether appropriate setting of Dolce and Gabbana’s oh-so-very-ritzy Gold restaurant, Beckham dined with several other international soccer celebrities while mulling his latest coup. The England international star apparently has settled the contractual tug-of-war between the Galaxy, which owns him, and AC Milan, which wants him, by grabbing both ends of the rope. It will cost him a little bit, but he has gotten his way. In an unusual agreement that will be finalized this week — possibly today — Beckham will remain with the Serie A club until the end of the Italian season May 31 and then rejoin the Galaxy in mid-July, staying for the rest of the Major League Soccer season. After that, Beckham will exercise the buyout clause in his five-year, $32.5-million contract with MLS and bid the Galaxy and the league adieu before rejoining AC Milan. In effect, Beckham has cast his lot with the Italian club and is being “loaned” back to Los Angeles for four months. Complicated? Sure, but for Beckham it is the best of both worlds. First, he can continue playing at a high level with AC Milan as it seeks to finish in the top three in Serie A and thereby qualify for next season’s lucrative European Champions League. The team is currently in third place behind Inter Milan and Juventus. Second, staying with Milan for another dozen league matches will significantly help Beckham’s chances of remaining on the England national team as it tries to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Playing in a fourth World Cup has long been a priority for Beckham, who played for England in the 1998 cup and then helped England reach the quarterfinals at Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. England Coach Fabio Capello has said Beckham, who will turn 34 in May, needs to play regularly and at a high level to be considered for the team. England has six World Cup qualifying games and three friendly matches on its schedule for the rest of 2009. Third, by returning to Los Angeles, even if it is for less than half a season, Beckham will fulfill his promise of coming back to the Galaxy, something he said he would do when he engineered a short-term loan to AC Milan in December. Just what the reaction of Galaxy fans will be remains an interesting point of conjecture. The agreement was hammered out during weeks of negotiating amid a flurry of disinformation leaked to the media on both sides of the Atlantic. It appears to save face for all concerned. Although financial details of the deal have not been revealed, it is said to involve more than the $10 million to $15 million that the Galaxy and MLS were seeking for allowing Beckham to leave on a permanent basis. Part of the money will come from AC Milan as payment for the extended loan, with a further payment coming at the time of the eventual transfer. Milan’s total is more than the $3 million the club initially was offering. A larger amount will come from Beckham himself as compensation for leaving MLS with two years remaining on his contract. On Monday, only the fine points of the agreement remained to be ironed out. All parties — the Galaxy, AC Milan, Galaxy owner AEG, MLS and Beckham himself — supposedly were satisfied. Beckham was to have rejoined the Galaxy next Monday but now will stay with AC Milan through May 31. After that, he hopes to be called up for England’s World Cup qualifying matches on the road against Kazakhstan on June 6 and at home against Andorra on June 10. He can then take a brief break because he cannot join the Galaxy until the MLS international transfer window opens July 15, although he can train with the team before that date. The bottom line for the Galaxy is that Beckham would miss the first 17 games of the 30-game season. His first match for Los Angeles would be July 18 at the New York Red Bulls. On the surface, the Galaxy would appear to be getting very little out of the settlement. But there are benefits. Beckham’s $6.5-million salary will not count against the salary cap until he returns, nor will he count against the 24-player roster limit. That means Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena is free to use the money saved and the position opened to sign another player. Also, with Beckham — or Beckham-lite — back for part of the season, the Galaxy and AEG will be able to keep key sponsors satisfied and, just perhaps, revive flagging season ticket sales. For Beckham, meanwhile, the jet-set lifestyle will continue. His next match is Wednesday night — not in Milan, not in Los Angeles, but in Doha, Qatar, where AC Milan is playing a money-spinning friendly against the Qatari club Al Sadd.
Blah! All this whiny dramatic bullshizz on David Beckham’s part has really soured me on him as an athlete. His whole attitude about his multi-million dollar contract with the LA Galaxy strikes me as so unprofessional that I cannot even look at him in the same way anymore. While I seem to be the only person in the entire US of A who even cares about Beckham playing for the LA Galaxy (I understand the local sports press here in SoCal is glad to be rid of him), I can’t help but feel some disappointment in knowing that he is not a man who seems willing to fulfill his obligations to a team that has invested so much in him. I suppose the LA Galaxy honchos are to be blamed for loaning him out in the first place … then again, they prolly counted on Becks actually honoring his agreement with them to return after his 2-month loan out. At this point, I think AC Milan should keep him and should enjoy having him as much as they can … honestly, he doesn’t even really want to be with them anyway. His real goal appears to get back in favor with the English team that expunged him for his lackluster performance with them. Ever since then, he’s been trying to weasel his way back into leading the English team. Overall, I can’t say that I blame him for wanting to play for his beloved home team but I personally feel that it would be more honorable, more professional for him to fulfill his commitments to his new teams before jumping ship when the going gets tough. I guess he’s Milan’s problem now … and I wish them all the luck in the world.
[Source]
Tags: AC Milan, David Beckham, The Los Angeles Galaxy
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March 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 am
What a little crybaby bitch boy! He may be hot, but he’s a douche and lord knows we have more than enough douches in this country already…
In other words, bye-bye Becks. Don’t let the door hitcha where the good lord splitcha!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
JFC if he wants to go just let him go no one does or will ever care about soccer here in America.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
i didn’t even bother reading past the 1st paragraph. what a cry baby loser. ugh
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:41 am
LOL christine. I just don’t care about this guy at all.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Why is he acting like that little bitch, Renaldo? Good God, Becks! I have always respected you as a player and you pull this shit?!? Where is the love of sport and the goodness of your word and charachter. Did it go out the door with the Bachelor? Is that it? Did he spoil your love of Americans? It is all Jason’s fault!!! Blame all the problems of the world on that arsehole, Jason, today!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Amen Trent, Africkin’men!
I have been such a huge fan of his and this whole situation with AC Milan and his incessant whining about staying over there has made all the love I had for him vanish. You’re a better person then me because I don’t wish him or Milan any kind of luck, that big baby!
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
As much as it bums me out that he wants to leave, I don’t blame him..European soccer is such a different level of play than the MLS..Don’t get me wrong, it’s bullshizz that he’s not living up to his promises, but I can totally see it from his view..Now if only they’d replace him with Fernando Torres..*drooooool*
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I love me some Becks but he sounds like a big old baby!
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 am
but kendra, he knew coming over here that soccer here is not like it is in europe. ya know?
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 am
I thought that as well, at first. But lately after reading through the staments from LA galaxy i think its abundantly clear that the only reason they want to keep him is because he is a commercial goldmine. He brings them alot of money through endorsement deals, t-shirt sales, etc. AC Milan on the other hand want David Beckham – an A-class soccer player. His dealing with things may not be professional but at least this shows his integrity as an athlete.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
@Jadedkitten – My family and I and most of our friends prove you wrong..We are all VERY passionate about soccer! Whether it’s playing, watching, or traveling to watch World Cup games, we love this sport and think it’s the best sport in the world! It takes so much skill and thought to play..It’s a bummer it hasn’t caught on more here in America..
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 am
I knew it would happen eventually… Still disappointing, though. He made his bed and he should lie in it… not run away and buy his way out!
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
He came here it seems only for the money, not the intention of increasing interest in soccer. What happened to the love of sport? I haven’t seen press for it here other than this drama shit. If he cared for the integrity of being an athlete he should stick with one team – teamwork is the most important part! He knows soccer and should know better. Shame.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
La Galaxy only want beckham because of the money they make from him. did any of you people actually watch any of the galaxy games last season? they were absolutly terrible and david was the only one who appeared to care. the rest could not give a shit. playing with a proper team where every player cares and wants to actually play football is where beckham belongs. he is willing to buy himself out of his contract with La Galaxy showing that its not all about the money its about football proper football not soccer! Trent only likes beckham because he’s pretty to look at…and that just sums it all up. ac milan supporters want him for footballing reasons not so they can fantises about him and hold up pretty posters at soccer matches, wave pompoms and scream ‘marry me david’ at!
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:54 am
He’s just trying to keep up with really good football (it is football not soccer) because the world cup is next year and if he really wants to return to the English team he can not stay in LA… He needs to play with really good football players that are going to compete in the world cup.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Don’t foget soccer is the #1 recreational league sport in America. That is why Beckham was brought here. To really up the league and promote it into becoming the big deal it should be!
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I say go becks! American soccer SUCKS! He must be glad to get to play some REAL soccer. Here he is just a celebrity, over there he is an athlete! BIG difference.
Plus, he’s not doing anything wrong. He is RIGHTFULLY buying himself out of the contract, something legal and a viable option!
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
What a baby! He needs to go back to Europe where he belongs. I’m not from CA but I’ve been reading Trent’s reports on the Galaxy soccer team for some time now and correct me if I’m wrong but he didn’t really play all that well anyway did he? Wasn’t he always injured or coming off an injury or something? I’ve caught some World Cup games and some games with Beckham and I’m sorry but I think he is highly overrated. Maybe at one point in his career he was amazing but it looks to me like he’s trying to desperately hang on to the glory days. Now he is a name brand… a celeb athlete whose name brings in the money. I was in Italy a few years ago and the rabid soccer fans in the part I was in thought he was overrated even then!
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
sad.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I told you this would happen. Trying to win the MLS cup means absolutely nothing compared to playing for the England National team and he will only be considered if he’s playing high quality football. Everyone gets what they want; The Galaxy get the $ they would have made off him, Milan get’s him and Becks gets a chance at England and playing at a high level.
Trent if you actually bothered to look into football you’d realize that players jump ship quite a bit and teams launch bids for other teams’ players. It just comes down to all sides negotiating to get what they want.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Ha, excellent! A footballer saved!
Sreiously though his mistake was moving to LA in the frist place (and for that I actually blame Steve McClaren, the ex-England manager, who turfed Becks out after the World Cup & said he’d never play again for England) Becks obviously thought he had no more reason to stay in top flight football & so pushed on with the ludicrous idea of trying to encourage more football over in the US but when he performed well enough (and England actually needed him due to injuries to other players etc) to be recalled to the England squad I think he realised what a mistake it was to move to such a poor league so early in his career.
I’m just happy he can get back to playing proper football at a good level, he went to the US far too early on in his career & wasted precious years there. I also think he’s ruined his chances of going back there later in his career as I doubt he’s very popular there now…nevermind! We love you Becks, thank you for returning to us, screw the MLS! God I’m so happy he’s back!
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Meg although I think your comments ate harsh, the basis is correct. I live in the states now but was born in England & it is common practise for players to jump ship or to be traded just like American football. Please remember that one of the Manning brothers I think it was did something very similar when he didn’t like the team he was traded to. So let’s not make it about being British or American. The bottom line is David Beckham is protecting his career and doing what he thinks is right for him even if in a slightly petulant way. If any normal human being was in a job that they didn’t like or with a company they were not happy with they would try to find a way out DB is no exception…… They would have had the right to fire him if they wanted or ” traded” him & he should have the right to fight to be on which ever team he wants…
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I don’t think he’s been whining. The guy said he wants to stay in Europe for purely football reasons and is willing to compensate the Galaxy who’s main interest in him is commercial. People change jobs/employers to suit their needs and employers do the reverse.
Let’s face facts, soccer will never make it as one of the top American sports, it’ll always be niche. Even the sports reporters and networks don’t take it seriously.
Trent I find it hilarious when you pretend to care about the MLS.
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
@Vlada — I’m not pretending to care about anything. I’m merely voicing my disappointment at an assumed professional’s lack of professionalism.
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
how is he lacking professionalism? very rarely do football players see out their contract. most players sign for 5 years or more when they first move to a club but its quite common for them to move on after 2/3 years – teams never let them go to the end of their contract because then they can just move on for free.
he hasn’t been rude about the MLS he hasn’t come out and said this league is shit and im way above it – which is all true, instead he has said that its a young league that in a few years time may well be up to scratch, but that at this time for his own career he needs to be playing proper football. hes not being a very professional celebrity and sucking arse but he is being extremely professional as a football player in seeing what is best for his career and making arrangements to obtain it. stick to gossiping about celebs trent because you dont appear to know anything about football or soccer as you lot call it!
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I wouldn’t say he’s unprofessional either, cuz it’s not uncommon on the other side of the world who cares about football that players rarely see out their contract. Sometimes it’s the players who move sometimes it’s the club who sells out the players.
Furthermore I can totally see why he would want to move to AC Milan as that is a a top club in europe who plays real football. Not to be rude to LA Galaxy, but really they are kinda really bad in their game. One Beckham is just not enough to help the whole team. Plus he is not getting any younger yet he still has the hunger to strive for top football so it’s inevitable that given the chance to play in Milan that he would want to continue to play world class football and not let his skills deteriorate. Just my 2 cents~
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Trent, I agree with you! I am totally soured on him!
I don’t think anybody understands that besides not living up to his contract, is that one of the reasons he came here was to help increase interest in the MLS, American soccer, and level of play here!!!!!!!
Obviously he knew that the level of play here wasn’t the same as in Europe. He wasn’t flying blind!
I have absolutely no more respect for the man.
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:35 pm
@ Trent and the rest of you lot complaining and calling Becks a baby…
Come off it!! What exactly has he done that is unprofessional?? Have you lot never quit or resigned? He is coming back and honouring his contract. But IN HIS CONTRACT he has a clause that lets him leave at the end of this season. That clause was given to him by the MLS and Galaxy. He hasn’t broken his word nor dishonoured his contract. If you are upset that he is leaving fine, but no need to slag or slander the man. Sheesh..
PS- I told you so!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Oh thank God. Go away and stay away!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
If any of you have even followed football in Europe, this is a common thing. It happens in the NFL/ NBA/MLB/MLS too. Hell even in college it happens (how many kids have left USC to other programs??). Beckham cares about THE ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM. That’s his pride and joy. He wants to play for them in South Africa this summer and, sadly, the level of the Galaxy and the MLS just isn’t going to cut it. He’s been wasted in America and is only a pretty boy to look at here. He still has some football left in him. And no offense, I love you Trent, but to the guy who said he’d been following Trent’s reports on the Galaxy, how can you honestly take the word of someone who hadn’t paid any attention to the sport before Beckham got here?
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Let’s be real – Becks never was a star player on his own, he’s a team player! But he can set up some beautiful plays. The players on the Galaxy just couldn’t offer the level of support he needs. He’s not being unprofessional. End of story. Especially when you think of all the other crap others players have pulled when jockeying for new contracts. N’Zogbia anyone? He left a team just because his manager mispronounced his name.
@ all you proper football fans: this was good for a laugh, no?
March 4th, 2009 at 3:34 am
WOW…all you who have posted here are absolutely insane. Can you blame him for wanting to leave! Think about it..if you are at a job and you get a better offer somewhere else..don’t think for a minute that you sissies wouldn’t take it. He is a professional athlete..he is doing what is best for his career..And staying on with a high level of play is the best move for him. Staying with the Galaxy was not a long term deal anyways..we all knew that he would find better homes after his contract came to an end. The only difference now is..he has found a better place..RIGHT Now…come on guys..the ones who are being the lil cry babies about this situation is all of you!!
March 4th, 2009 at 3:39 am
I say good for Beckham!!
March 4th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Trent I luv you but I totally disagree with your comments. Ive been an avid Beckham supporter since “back in the day” even when everyone else was against him in the 98 euro cup. His talent is being wasted here.. I’m sure when the Galaxy offered him the contract they offered lots of sugar coated promises that tempted him that probably wasn’t fulfilled either. I don’t see what they’ve done to REALLY promote the sport besides bringing him here. All the celebs came out to the first game but where have they and everyone else been since then? Where’s all the awesome promotion to show that soccer is a fun sport to try? Go youtube his commercials for Adidas and Pepsi, THOSE are the types that should have been shown here, not some ad for Sharpie!! Yes I thought that commercial was cute but it shows him being a CELEBRITY not a great football player. So yes he’s not totally fulfilling his contract but there’s another side that hasn’t done their part either. As the saying goes, the caged bird doesn’t sing…
PS. Seriously go youtube those commercials, they are so much fun and creative! That’s the type of promotion the sport needs here.
March 4th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Come on, Trent! Love him enough to let him go & do what’s best for him! We’ll still get pictures, and he’ll be smiling:)
March 4th, 2009 at 8:31 am
My little brother (he’s now 23) has been playing soccer pretty much his entire life. When he was in 8th grade he was a starter on the high school varsity team. I always found it so sad that the crappy football team always played to a PACKED stadium and when our soccer team played, there were a couple DOZEN people there. They went to the state championship almost every year he played for them and NO ONE CARED. I will always support soccer and not just because this David Beckham character decided to show up in America. Isn’t he just eye candy for lots of people anyway? I hope anyone who decided to support the Galaxy just when Mr. Beckham showed up continues to do so.
March 4th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Yeah have to agere with the minority here who thinks it’s an excellent move for becks & in no way unprofessional…it happens all the time in football, nothing new or wrong about it. At least he was upfront about his wishes & didn’t just come back to LA, play half-heartedly & sneak out the back door. Full credit to becks & I hope his career/playing skills picks back up to where it should be when he plays full time in Milan.
Also have to say whilst I love this site, I completely disgree with the way this whole transfer saga has been reported here, completely biased & seemingly unaware of the way football transfers work. Go research some of the more dodgy deals & almost-deals like Berbatov to Man Utd, Kaka almost to Man City, Ronaldo almost to Real Madrid, Figo to Real Madrid, Cole to Chelsea, Gallas to Arsenal…and you’ll see how often players & clubs essentially lie to the public about their intents & plans & forcce moves to another club or block a propsed move to a club. Becks did nothing wrong here, or at least did nothing unprofessional or unusual by football standards.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
So sad that soccer hasn’t caught on, everyone else in the world has…
March 10th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I’m with icecream. This happens all the time in football! He was honest about what he wanted and found away to make it work. I think he was professional in this matter. Even when the Galaxy said initially that they were not going to go forth with a deal, he said he would return. Of course he was disappointed. AC Milan is a good team and he has been playing well there.
I love you, Trent, but this is how it works…