David Beckham is to pay $3 million (about £2.1 million) to give himself the best possible chance of playing for England in the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer. The amount represents the difference between the valuations of his services by AC Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy, and Beckham sees the investment in prolonging his loan transfer from the Major League Soccer (MLS) club to the Italian side, and therefore his England career, as good value.
Fabio Capello, the England manager, has indicated that Beckham must continue at the highest level if he is to retain his place in the national team — which means playing for Milan in Serie A and European competition rather than returning full-time to the less competitive environs of MLS.
Milan initially offered only $3 million to sign Beckham outright, which was well short of the valuation placed on him by the Galaxy and MLS, and even during negotiations to extend his loan to the end of the season, the clubs were far apart. Without a breakthrough, Beckham would have had to return to California by Monday to prepare for the opening of the MLS season. Seeing his chances of appearing in a fourth World Cup vanishing, Beckham agreed to break the impasse out of his own pocket.
Under the terms of the new arrangement, Beckham will remain a Galaxy player, but stay in Milan on loan until the end of the Serie A season in May, by which time he hopes to have helped Milan to qualify for the Champions League. He will then be available for England’s World Cup qualifying matches away to Kazakhstan and at home to Andorra in June before returning to Los Angeles, fulfilling the promise he made in December after negotiating his original loan with Milan.
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Beckham will be able to train with, but not play for, the MLS club until the opening of the international transfer window on July 15, after which he will complete the MLS season with the Galaxy. If all goes to plan, his first match back in a Galaxy jersey will be away to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, July 18.
It had been widely expected that, at the end of the season, Beckham would invoke the clause that allows him to leave after three years of his five-year, $32.5 million contract with MLS. Instead, The Times understands that Beckham will then be loaned back to Milan until the end of the 2009-10 season, although he will only be eligible to play from the opening of the transfer window on January 1.
That, of course, supposes that Milan will still want him back. Carlo Ancelotti, the coach, is by no means certain to remain in charge of the team and a new regime might prefer to remodel an ageing squad. Beckham’s wages might be more profitably spent on younger talent, especially if — as cynics might suggest — sales of Beckham shirts have already peaked.
Assuming further that Beckham maintains sufficient form and fitness to justify his continued selection by Capello, he will join up with the England squad bound for South Africa, returning to Los Angeles for the remainder of the 2010 MLS season. Victoria, his wife, and their three children will still reside in Los Angeles.
What will Angelenos make of the return of a player willing to pay to ensure that he does not return to play before them permanently? “On the surface, the Galaxy would appear to be getting very little out of the settlement,” Graham L. Jones, who covers the Galaxy for the Los Angeles Times, wrote. “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. Also, with Beckham — or Beckham-lite — back for part of the season, the Galaxy and their owners will be able to keep key sponsors satisfied and, just perhaps, revive flagging season-ticket sales.”
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Man United; Is Fletcher good enough?
In seasons gone by the presence of Darren Fletcher’s name on the team sheet has often filled me with a curious mixture of disbelief and fury. Think Victor Meldrew at his angriest (I did actually mutter the infamous ‘I don’t believe it’ on more than one occasion).
It got to the point where, upon seeing the starting eleven, I would actually be annoyed if I saw Fletcher’s name instead of Scholes, Carrick & Co. The game was in mortal danger of being ruined if the number 24 was taking up a precious midfield spot.
This season, however, I have warmed ever so slightly to the Fletch as he has produced (for him) consistently good(ish) performances – praise indeed. He is clearly a talented player and his performances are always packed with enthusiasm and commitment, but, and this is a big but;
Is he really good enough to warrant a place in starting eleven of the English and European Champions?
I know people will argue Fletcher has had to be selected because Anderson has been injured, Scholes is getting older and Owen Hargreaves suffering from Louis Saha ‘itis’. I sometimes wonder if United ever actually signed Hargreaves or whether I am confusing life with one of my football manager saved games again (it has happened before believe me).
Anyway, back to Fletcher. His quality (or lack of) is a hot topic amongst many United fans I know. There are the Fletcher fans who claim his reliable, hard-working and selfless style is worthy of a United first team place. Then there are the group who despise his ‘boring’ 5 yard passes, lack of flair and uncanny knack of slowing down an attack.
Admittedly he appears to have bulked up over the past 12 months and appears to be getting forward with more purpose. His determination and hard work alone ensure he is a valuable squad player but top class he is not. Fletcher lacks the touch of genius needed to dominate a game in the way Keane/Scholes could and Carrick can.
A few years ago I remember hearing that Beckham was going to be sold and this new kid on the block was going to effortlessly fill the number 7 shirt on the right of midfield. The idea of Fletcher replacing Beckham seems as preposterous today as it did then – can you really see Fletcher selling all those shirts. Actually to be fair I suppose Beckham could pass the ball too.
Anyway, Darren Fletcher; underrated by fans or overrated by Fergie?
It got to the point where, upon seeing the starting eleven, I would actually be annoyed if I saw Fletcher’s name instead of Scholes, Carrick & Co. The game was in mortal danger of being ruined if the number 24 was taking up a precious midfield spot.
This season, however, I have warmed ever so slightly to the Fletch as he has produced (for him) consistently good(ish) performances – praise indeed. He is clearly a talented player and his performances are always packed with enthusiasm and commitment, but, and this is a big but;
Is he really good enough to warrant a place in starting eleven of the English and European Champions?
I know people will argue Fletcher has had to be selected because Anderson has been injured, Scholes is getting older and Owen Hargreaves suffering from Louis Saha ‘itis’. I sometimes wonder if United ever actually signed Hargreaves or whether I am confusing life with one of my football manager saved games again (it has happened before believe me).
Anyway, back to Fletcher. His quality (or lack of) is a hot topic amongst many United fans I know. There are the Fletcher fans who claim his reliable, hard-working and selfless style is worthy of a United first team place. Then there are the group who despise his ‘boring’ 5 yard passes, lack of flair and uncanny knack of slowing down an attack.
Admittedly he appears to have bulked up over the past 12 months and appears to be getting forward with more purpose. His determination and hard work alone ensure he is a valuable squad player but top class he is not. Fletcher lacks the touch of genius needed to dominate a game in the way Keane/Scholes could and Carrick can.
A few years ago I remember hearing that Beckham was going to be sold and this new kid on the block was going to effortlessly fill the number 7 shirt on the right of midfield. The idea of Fletcher replacing Beckham seems as preposterous today as it did then – can you really see Fletcher selling all those shirts. Actually to be fair I suppose Beckham could pass the ball too.
Anyway, Darren Fletcher; underrated by fans or overrated by Fergie?
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