Beckham agrees to LA Galaxy move
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David Beckham will leave Real Madrid and join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old former England captain will sign a five-year deal. Beckham told Reuters: "This week Real asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons.
"After considering several options to stay in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy." Beckham left Manchester United in July 2003 to sign for Real, who paid £25m for the midfielder's services. However, in three-and-a-half seasons, the Spanish giants have failed to win any silverware.
This season has proved particularly disappointing for Beckham, who was dropped by England coach Steve McClaren and struggled to win a place in Real's first team.
Free Transfer... -
Beckham agrees five-year $250m LA Galaxy deal
David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and join side Los Angeles Galaxy on a £128m ($250m) five-year deal. The former England captain will leave Real in June and begin his new career in Major League Soccer in August.
'After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay here at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.
'I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make.
'I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans.
'I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.
'For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100% to my coach, team mates and fans as I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve.'
So much money no wonder he is smiling...
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DAVID BECKHAM had showdown talks about his future today after blundering Real Madrid bosses were forced to backtrack over claims they would dump him at the end of the season.
Real's embarrassed sporting director Predrag Mijatovic apologised to Beckham and the club for appearing to tell an Italian TV channel the former England captain would be axed in the summer. The gaffe took the strained relationship between the two sides to breaking point, increasing the chances "Golden Balls" will reject Real's offer of a two-year contract.
Sources close to Beckham say there is no chance of him leaving this month. But his advisers, who will meet Madrid officials this afternoon, say the 31-year-old is being courted by several Premiership clubs, thought to include Everton, Tottenham, Bolton and West Ham.
Beckham has been stalling on signing the new deal in Spain because he is desperate for first team football and is unwilling to spend two more years on the bench. His spokesman added: "There's a great offer on the table from Real Madrid, but there are also great offers from Italy, France, Britain and America.
"We'll be having a meeting with Real. After that there will be a clearer view of where David's future lies after this season." Inter, AC Milan and Lyon will also have been alerted by Real's clumsy handling of the contract issue.
But the most likely destination for Beckham remains Los Angeles Galaxy. Football runs from April to October in the US, so it is possible Beckham could leave Madrid in May and play for Galaxy for most of the MLS season.
The idea of a move to California also appeals because of the lifestyle it would allow his family and the proximity of his David Beckham Academy, which was launched at the LA Galaxy stadium.
Beckham was bemused by news Mijatovic told Sky Italia that Madrid's offer of a new two-year deal had been shelved. When Beckham's representatives spoke to Mijatovic, he told them he had been misquoted and had simply said no contract had been agreed yet.
Real scored own goal ? -
1 year later, Everyone will be going.. David who?
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cannot see him in action anymoreOriginally posted by Agenda:1 year later, Everyone will be going.. David who?
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most prob go hollywood liaoOriginally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:cannot see him in action anymore -
His moved also reported on Yahoo's main page, main story somemore! Which other footballer move got report on yahoo... ?
In a televised interview provided by LA Galaxy, Beckham added: "Another challenge has come up and it is the right time for us to do it.
"I didn't want to go out there at 34 years old and for people to turn around and say he's only going there to get the money. It's not what I'm going out there to do. "I'm going to hopefully build a club and a team that has a lot of potential. I think that is what excites me."
"Regrets? No. I have never had any regrets throughout my life and career and I never want to. "I moved to Real Madrid in 2003. I have to say thank you to Florentino Perez for giving me the chance to actually play for this huge team and to play in that white shirt was an honor for four years.
"To play with the players I have played with, to play with Zidane was the biggest honor I have had in my career, to play with the likes of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos you know, for me, there is no regrets there.
HUGE DEAL
His deal is reported to be one of the biggest in global sport with Beckham set to earn more than $250 million over the duration of his contract following the removal of the salary cap in the MLS. Beckham will earn approximately one million dollars a week.
LA Galaxy had made public their interest in Beckham who runs a football academy that shares its home with the team and who has close links to the Anschutz Entertainment Group who own the club.
"David Beckham coming to MLS might be viewed by some as one of the most important moments for soccer in this country and perhaps the history of professional sport," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "David transcends the sport and is a cultural icon. David is clearly one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. People are going to feel really good about David Beckham spending the rest of his career in the U.S."
The news ends months of speculation about the future of the midfielder whose contract with Real expires at the end of the season. -
RM hw come nt sell him nw?
can get at least 5M -
Cos he won't want to go mah... 4, 5 months more to his contract ends might as well wait out this time...Originally posted by pierre^^:RM hw come nt sell him nw?
can get at least 5M
Real gets $0 for him... and they must pay his salary of $100,000 a week for another few months... -
i think he is gonna own the players over in the usa...
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Million dollars a week! That sort of money is obscene.
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Beckham goes Hollywood...
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not that he cares.Originally posted by Agenda:1 year later, Everyone will be going.. David who? -
Originally posted by zocoss:
Haha yea not surprising if he ends up there. Since he won't get most of e limelight when he's in Man u & England, joining Hollywood would be a better choice
[b]Beckham goes Hollywood... [/b]
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So, when's the movie?
Hollywood's just a stone throw away.
Also, look out for him missing more penalties, as there are no draws in MLS, I think. -
Hardly anyone in America really knows who David Beckham is. Most people have probably heard of him because of his celebrity friends but I doubt there are many who do know who he is unless they're actually into soccer.
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If you earn $150k a week who cares!Originally posted by mighty_megatron:Hardly anyone in America really knows who David Beckham is. Most people have probably heard of him because of his celebrity friends but I doubt there are many who do know who he is unless they're actually into soccer.
If he want to be know worldwide he just walk into hollywood next to Galaxy and start filming, and also provided he can earn more than $150k too. -
so how much will he be getting at LA??
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After he hangs his boots.. would he consider a rap career?
Kevin Federline => K Fed
David Beckham => D Beck -
5 years in LA...
endorsments...
pay...salary....
he's going to have no problem about his after football life..
but he does kick damn bloody good fee kicks once in a while... sweet.. -
Lol beckham act in bend it like backham
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500,000 pounds a week.
And you thought chelski were pushing the limit with ballack and shevchenko's wages. looks like he's effectively retired from football. for that kind of money i don't blame him. -
wtf?! soooo much??
soccer is not even their major sport in the us -
US$ One million a week woh... and this still does not include his image rights...
He will probably make more than what he already has in 2, 3 years than over the last ten years...
But smart move you must say...
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bad move for his career. Superb move for his wallet