Beckham Heads For LA

[Virgil]

I was going to put this in the news section, but I thought it was such big news that it eserved its own thread.

Adios! Becks Heads For LA

David Beckham says he is leaving Real Madrid to sign for LA Galaxy.

The former England captain will leave the Spanish club at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal for the US side, believed to be worth £128m.

Beckham said: "This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons."

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

The 31-year-old, who joined Real from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began in 1996.

Daily Telegraph sports writer Chris Davies told Sky News: "The LA lifestyle would suit Posh but (for a player) it's an elephant's graveyard.

"If you go there you might as well sign off and claim your pension."

Real Madrid had earlier confirmed that a new two-year contract was still on the table despite confusion over remarks on Wednesday by sporting director Predrag Mijatovi which suggested Beckham would be leaving.

Beckham has consistently been linked with a move to the US.

But he insisted he was not going just for the money, but to make a difference in American sport.

He already has a football school in Los Angeles.

"Soccer is huge everywhere around the world, except in America," he said.

"That's where I want to make a difference with the kids."

The 31-year-old midfielder has been forced into a bit-part role this season and is desperate not to spend much of the remaining years of his playing career on the sidelines.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...561369,00.html

[kilted exile]

The bigger picture is it could be worth $275Mill over the course of 5 years, not bad for the most overrated player to ever lace on a pair of boots.

[Mark F.]

Well, now at least we can be sure Mcclaren won't grant him a recall. Becks is overrated but still a good player. Check this out, although he comes nowhere near Giggs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZF687l9a0

[AimusSage]

The bigger picture is it could be worth $275Mill over the course of 5 years, not bad for the most overrated player to ever lace on a pair of boots.

I wonder who helps him put his shoes on though. Apart from that, I agree, overrated!

[kilted exile]

Check this out, although he comes nowhere near Giggs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OZF687l9a0

Yeah, I've looked at it.....Useless for the position he plays, he does not have the required skill-set to play on the flank (ball control, pace, ability to beat his man, ability to cross a ball at speed) he is too soft to play in the centre. Really his only skill is the ability to hit a dead-ball.

[Scheherazade]

Good riddance.

Now he can pursue his career as a 'pop footballer' better in LA... Away from any worthwhile football events and challenges.

[Shadowsarin]

I have never liked Beckham one bit. He always seems to me to care more about the next advertisment deal than his job, which is to play football. Extremely over-rated and extremely over-hyped, much like most English players.

This is what happens if you pay the buggers a Gazillion quid a year.

[Virgil]

I suspected this article would cause a lot of opinions to come out.

[Nightshade]

beckham ...puh well you know the saying good riddence to... I thibnk its time to have a party! and may he never be England Captain again! And actually f he becmes an american and plays for them all the better

[ktd222]

I think it's one of those moves to draw more fans into soccer stadium and establish some type of link between European soccer and United States soccer. Maybe for future dealings.

[SleepyWitch]

oh no! this is a tragedy! it means Posh's ugly mug will be in all the mags and papers 365 days a year!
as for Beckham, here's what his performance will look like (I mean the first pic)

[Schokokeks]

I wonder who helps him put his shoes on though.

You forgot his make-up/earrings/hair-do/songs on his MP3-player/brains, probably ?

[Boris239]

There is no doubt that he is highly overrated although he used to be pretty good when he was playing for Man United. Having said that I've always liked Giggs, Keane and Scholes much more. And it's a joke that some pretty boy was a captain of the English national team.
For the developement of soccer in the US he can be pretty good, because of his popularity among knowing nothing about the game Americans, although I feel sick whenever I hear the comparison between Beckham and Pele.

[AimusSage]

There is no doubt that he is highly overrated although he used to be pretty good when he was playing for Man United. Having said that I've always liked Giggs, Keane and Scholes much more. And it's a joke that some pretty boy was a captain of the English national team.
For the developement of soccer in the US he can be pretty good, because of his popularity among knowing nothing about the game Americans, although I feel sick whenever I hear the comparison between Beckham and Pele.

Comparing beckham to Pele is like comparing a spec of dust to shining diamond. Pele is a football star, Beckham is an icon of decadent pop culture.

[subterranean]

Blame Mr. and Mrs. Cruise!