Subscribe
It looks like the Los Angeles Galaxy are going to make it very difficult for David Beckham to leave the team for AC Milan permanently. It is speculated that Milan put forth an offer of $5 million dollars for Beckham, but the Galaxy rejected it.
“We just received an offer,” Tim Leiweke, AEG’s chief executive, and a person who played a big role in getting David to come to Los Angeles in the first place, told the LA times. “It was rejected.”
It is rumored that the Galaxy want as much as $20 million dollars to release David from his contract, and possibly much more.
I really don’t blame the Galaxy for playing hardball. David is a valuable asset to the team -and to the league as a whole – and the Galaxy put a lot on the line to bring him over here. Now that he’s playing exceptionally well with Milan, it’s possible the coming season could be a big turnaround point for the team on the field, and that’s something no one would want to risk.
“If David ultimately is an asset for this team, we want him back,” Leiweke said. “If David ultimately has a hunger and a desire to come help us make the impact on the pitch that we wanted to make with him but haven’t done yet, then he’s an important member of this team and our intention is to bring him back.”
I understand why David wants to leave and to join Milan permanently. It’s in his best interests personally as a football player. However, I really don’t think David is putting everything into perspective when he made this decision – he signed with the Galaxy with, in part, the intention of heightening the profile and caliber of football in the MLS and in North America. To me, opting out of his contract demonstrates that he wasn’t truly serious about that and puts the future of the Galaxy, of the MLS, and of David’s reputation stateside, at risk.
Interestingly, Leiweke made it very clear that he doubts there would be an hard feelings between David and the club should the contract negotiations fall through.
“If David comes back, it will be because there were decisions made by all involved and he’ll accept that,” Leiweke said. “I don’t think he’ll be as disgruntled as the media makes it out to be.”
I find that very reassuring. If David cannot stay with AC Milan, I hope he and the Galaxy will be able to move past this and plan for a fantastic 2009 season.
Image: Newscom