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Article from 9th
February 2009, for my school newspaper.
It
seems that David Beckham wants to cut short his time with MLS side LA Galaxy
and join European giants AC Milan, who he is currently on loan with. Ex-England
captain Beckham is having the time of his life, playing alongside the likes of
Ronaldinho, Kaka and Pato. He has scored two goals in five games and, on Sunday
against Lazio, he had a great game, getting the assists for two of Milan’s
three goals. The midfielder, who wears the number 32 shirt, previously worn by
Milan legend Christian Vieri, is loving life at AC Milan.
There is one small
problem though: he is only on loan and he must return to the Galaxy in time for
the new MLS season. Beckham has himself conceded that he wants to stay with the Rossoneri. After playing the first
half in a friendly against Rangers on Wednesday night, Beckham said:
''I've expressed my desire to stay here but at the moment I'm still a
Galaxy player,'' Beckham said. ''I respect the Galaxy and everything they have
done for me. They have always been great to me. But I hope they can come to an
agreement and it's down to the clubs now. At this point it's out of my hands.
I've said what my feelings are to both clubs. To be given the chance again to
play at this level at my age is pretty incredible and I've enjoyed it so much I
would like to continue it. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't expect to
enjoy it as much as I have and do as well as I have.''
Beckham says that he wants to stay in Italy because
he has “rediscovered” himself as a footballer. Beckham is only two years into a
lucrative 5-year contract worth $32.5 million with the Galaxy, but Beckham says
he would rather stay in Milan than go back to Galaxy for the money:
"At
the moment, Milan is more important than money. I want to think about football
before everything else. I said in a clear manner what I think; I want to stay
at Milan because I've rediscovered myself as a football player. The immediate
aim is to stay here in Milan and play at the highest level possible. This would
give me the best possibility of securing a place with the England national
team."
England manager Fabio Capello stated that for
Beckham to be considered for a place in the national team squad, he needs to be
playing well, regularly. That’s exactly what Beckham is doing. In his brief
period in Italy Beckham has been an immediate success, winning over a sceptical
public and media thanks to his impact on Milan's side. So far Galaxy have
refused to discuss Beckham's future, with club spokesman Patrick Donnelly
insisting on Wednesday that they “have no comment to make.''
The main reason behind Beckham's decision to seek a
loan move was his ambition to play for England at the 2010 World Cup finals and
he clearly feels that aim would be better served by moving from the US back to
the top-class European game:
''I think people have seen the way I've been since playing at this level
again. 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. I'm still confident
that will happen eventually, but I want to have a chance of being involved in
2010 and I believe my best chance of doing so is to remain here.''
Beckham, who recovered from a minor bout of flu to
play in Glasgow on Wednesday, revealed England manager Fabio Capello had
encouraged him to play at the best standard of football he could. Beckham said:
''When I was first thinking about going on loan, obviously I asked his
advice on where I should play and he said, 'All I can say to you is play at the
highest level'.''
However, the former Manchester United and Real
Madrid player refused to look back with regret at his decision to move to
America:
''I have always made decisions never regretting anything in my career
and my life. At the time I felt it was right for me and I have had great times
there. Who knows, I might enjoy myself in the MLS again in the future. It's
nothing against the league. It's just I have enjoyed myself so much here I want
to stay for a while.''
Milan general manager Adriano Galliani earlier
claimed Beckham's lawyers were in talks with LA Galaxy over extending the
midfielder's stay at the San Siro. While Beckham did not believe talks had
reached that stage, he does expect both clubs to discuss a deal in the coming
days:
''The Los Angeles Galaxy have always been very nice to us and have
behaved in a very gentlemanly manner. There is time until March 8 to get us
round a table and close a possible deal.''
A
former manager of David has stated that he believes that a permanent move to
Milan is just what Beckham needs. Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed Beckham for
ten years from when Beckham started his career at United until 2003, when he
joined Real Madrid, believes that Beckham will join Milan:
"It would be the most natural thing he could
do, to get back into the real hotbed of football. This is a golden moment for
the lad and I think he'll take it. If the two clubs can work out a
deal then I think it will happen. If they [Milan] give him that opportunity it would be silly not to take
it. He's had a spell at Galaxy and, fine, they've paid him an awful lot of
money and they should have some loyalty from him. But being selfish, if I was
given the chance to go to Milan, I would take it. There's no chance he can do
it in two years."
It is widely believed that the main reason that
Beckham may be unable to join AC Milan is his family. Beckham’s wife, Victoria
or “Posh Spice”, seems to have settled into the Hollywood lifestyle of Los
Angeles. Their three children, Brooklyn (9), Romeo (6) and Cruz (3) have all
made lots of friends and are enjoying their school and activities and consider
LA their home now. Apparently, there just aren’t enough Italien fashion
boutiques to lure Victoria out of California. Victoria flew in from LA on
Friday 6th February to be re-united with Beckham, and to discuss the
proposition of moving to another huge European city. The family – including
David’s mum and dad and Victoria’s mum and dad - will then go to watch Beckham
in action for Milan. They will all then report to London so that Beckham can
train with the England squad for next week’s friendly against Spain.
Beckham described MLS football as
“frustrating” and Serie A as “special”, an even bigger hint that Beckham wants
to stay. Coach Carlo Ancelotti and Vice-president Adriano Galliani
have both expressed a desire for Beckham to stay at the San Siro.
Beckham
is a huge hit in Italy. AC Milan shirts with “Beckham” on the back are selling
like hot cakes. Apparently, the jerseys are selling at a similar rate to that
of two-time World Player of Year, Ronaldinho. AC Milan Marketing Director Laura
Masi said:
“It’s an exceptional case as
Ronaldinho was signed permanently, while Beckham, so far, is just a temporary
player. The Beckham effect is significant. The increase in sales is comparable
to the first month’s sales of Ronaldinho’s shirts.”
Beckham has had
to win over the crowd at the San Siro after getting a muted response when he
was introduced in December. He’s helped stabilize the seven-time European
champion, who also want him to stay beyond March, when he’s due back in the
U.S. Beckham is trying to stay fit during the American offseason and retain a
place in the England squad. Ronaldinho, who was voted the world’s best player
in 2004 and 2005, was signed for as much as 25 million euros ($32.1 million) in
July after leaving Barcelona. His contract expires in 2011. On Saturday (7th
February) night, LA Galaxy revealed that they had rejected an offer from AC
Milan to convert the loan deal into a permanent one. The Galaxy say that
Milan’s bid, which is reportedly anywhere between £6.7 million and £13.5
million, is not high enough. Tim Leiweke, chief executive of Los Angeles
Galaxy’s owners, AEG, said:
“We need to end the distractions,
the circus and the zoo. We just received an offer. It was rejected.”
It sounds like
Beckham wants to leave, but I can see why Los Angeles Galaxy would be pretty
unhappy if the superstar left the soccer club. However, I think that the move
would benefit Beckham himself, AC Milan and the England national side, because
Beckham brings so much to the team.
A short biography
David Beckham has
been both a hero and a villain in the eyes of English football fans. After a bad-tempered
kick on Diego Simeone in England’s 1998 World Cup clash with Argentina, he was
cast as the villain of the piece. But, by the end of the 2002 World Cup, he was
universally regarded as England’s new hero. His fantastic ball skills, superb
distribution and the quality of his dead-ball kicks were always acknowledged –
but he picked up leadership skills as well to make him a more complete player.
As a youngster,
Beckham had trials with Leyton Orient but it was Manchester United who signed
him just after his 16th birthday. He made his United debut against
Brighton in the League Cup in September 1992, but had to wait until April 1995
to get his Premiership debut. He established himself in United’s midfield in
the next season and was given an international call-up by then-England manager
Glenn Hoddle. His corners and free-kicks became a trademark for the midfielder.
It hasn’t always
been football for Beckham in his career, though. Brazilian legend Pele once
remarked that:
“Beckham is more of a pop star
than a footballer”
There have been
alleged affairs (which Beckham strongly denies), various product-promoting
contracts, such as Brylcreem and the lifestyle that was the envy of millions.
On the field, however, defenders were being terrorised by Beckham at every
moment. Just like George Best before him, flooring the boy wonder was the only
way defenders could stop him.
His
most memorable moment will be scoring against Wimbledon in 1998. For those of
you who haven’t seen it, Beckham receives the ball on the half-way line, looks
up, sees the ‘keeper off his line and lobs with superb accuracy and elevation.
Beckham
won 15 trophies whilst at Manchester United, including six Premiership titles
and the Champions League, from the treble year of 1998/99. That was one of
Manchester United’s most famous years, not least of all because a lot of the
players were young and quite inexperienced, like Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and
Beckham. With Real Madrid, Beckham won the La Liga and the Supercopa de España.
With Galaxy, he has so far won nothing, and the same applies to international
competitions with England. At Milan, he could win so many things, and he could
regain the frightening form that he used to have under Sir Alex Ferguson.
