After months of speculation, questions and premature reports, it appears that the final twist in the David Beckham offseason saga has the player staying right where he is.
According to multiple reports from France and England, Beckham is not going to be signing with Paris-St. Germain after all, and a return to the Los Angeles Galaxy seems imminent.
PSG sporting director Leonardo reportedly told French outlet L'Equipe that, "It's over. It's a shame. But the welfare of his family in L.A., the wish not not to change everything in his life, weighed heavily."
Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi reportedly said on French radio that,"David Beckham is in Los Angeles, and he's going to stay there. He will not come, that is clear."
It is important to note that no new deal with the Galaxy has been announced or signed just yet. The BBC is reporting that MLS has offered Beckham a "one-year rolling deal" that would have the original Designated Player back for a sixth MLS season.
What do you think of this development? Did you think Beckham would return to MLS all along? Shocked that it appears he won't be ending up at PSG or anywhere else?
Share your thoughts below.
hahahahaha +1
OMG GG HC,
David played 11 games in 2009, 7 games in 2010.
facts disturbs dreams.
Jakarta is rejoicing
A loan agreement is not out of the question
No! We have our own version called the Concacaf Champions League. As American/Canadian teams become stronger, Mexico is being forced to take this tourney seriously. Central American teams are improving also.
They still need another scorer to pair with Keane…Now it has to be a non-DP type
There should be a 4th DP for all teams by now.
+1,000,000
You can sell shirts and be a good player…the 2 are not exclusive. And Kaka isn’t a waling billboard? What has he done lately except get video game deals.
Must be a Red Bull fan…
I hope Beckham signs on for one more year with the Galaxy. They could win CONCACAF Champions League with him, Keane, and Donovan.
I agree with you. In my opinion Beckham had a better final season than Donovan did. The question remains if Beckham can keep it up in 2012.
I heard a rumor he may be signing with the Lakers; that too would keep him in LA and is even more likely.
Well since you’re an LSU fan, i am glad we’re not getting confused
that’s funny… fischy is the reason I became a vegetarian.
saw 1 rumor out there that he may sign with Chivas USA. Would keep him in LA and free up the DP spot for the Galaxy. I could see it happening.
Total respect for what Beckham can still do on the field. Still a difference maker and a real warrior. Clearly though, he makes a bigger on field impact for the Galaxy than he would be able to for PSG.
It looks good for the league that he is giving up more $ to keep his family happy in LA. 30 year old European players come to MLS in large part because they and their families like the idea of living in the U.S. This just confirms that positive aspect a bit more for them. (“Becks and the Fam love LA so much, they turned down $5mil a year to stay there.”)
Finally, as much as I respect Beckham and what he has done, I personally would rather see a new DP in LA. I have seen him for a few years, so I would be more interested in seeing Lampard or Ronaldinho play for them. The average American sports fan probably feels differently. So good news for MLS.
Having beckham in the league makes the league bigger. another 2-3 years of him here will help keep the profile up and usher us into the NBC era nicely.
His brand is massive. Cant complain here.
I like Beckham and he did great things for the league. He’s not young though so this was almost inevitable.
“Ancelotti wins… He is said to prefer to have a real footballer join the roster(Kaka, Pato, Hulk…) rather than a walking billboard.”
Beckham has won titles with every team he has played with.
Pretty ignorant statement.
Plus, it’d be really hard to be on Ellen had he gone to France. That time difference is a killer.
Great! I like beckham in the MLS. He’s a great asset to our league, more than what noobs give him credit for… Now all we need is for the galaxy to get invited to Copa Libertadores. 😉
Beckham had said that his decision would be a “sporting” one. Well it’s true. Kind of !
Going to PSG would give him a really big contract BUT it would not be guaranteeing playing time. Ancelotti is used to having big money players ride the pine as he searches for the right playing combination. With PSG going after big stars, some of them would be riding the pine and my guess it would be the older experienced players, who make good subs coming off the bench. Hell all Becks has to do is look done the Galay bench from last season and see all the US USMNT WC
stars from 2002/06 riding the pine.
Jersey sales are bigger tha ever and he gets a better cut of the proceeds aon promotion than is offered anywhere else.
Add to the fact that LA is a very comfortable and desirable place to live (even more so than Paris. (I know, I’ve lived in both of them) The weather is warmer and injuries are less as the muscles do not have to put up with the stress of the Cold Parisian winters.
Add to the fact that it seems that Beckham gets much more “good” publicity in LA than anywhere else and still retains some privacy as well as almost certainly getting the Olympic team nod as a >23 player and I can see very well why he stays.
One could say most players were a bit worse for wear near the end of the season. Bottom line: Beckham started and went 90 the vast majority of games, including playoffs, during which he had three assists.
You misspelled champions.
There is one possible consideration which has not been mentioned. Even though it seems inconceivable that New York could have a team playing by 2013, Becks does have an option to participate as an owner in an MLS franchise. I suspect when he signed the first deal, there was some assurance about a New York team. Now, although his man is out at the Cosmos, there may still be some interest on his part in participating in a new ownership group for a different team, and maybe playing there a year before retiring. Of course, he could go to PSG for 12-18 months and still make that happen, but it would be harder.
Having said that, I’m sure that the family loves life in LA and doesn’t want to be a public spectacle again with all the paparazzi they’d deal with in Paris…and that this is the chief factor.
Oh geez. Did you say the same thing about all the MLS players who participated in the Gold Cup last year?
The Beckham to PSG move was never about football, it was about selling shirts. They can fins much better talent for the amount they would pay him to play a few minutes each game….if at all.
And rightly so. Success for the big teams will *trickle down* to the smaller ones (apropos term on caucus day).
Walking Billboard FC
Probably more a factor for PSG than for Beckham. I’ll bet the desire to sell shirts was (rightly) outweighed by the desire to get back to form. Kaka will produce more on the pitch than Becks, no question.
John,
if you ever watched beckham he always seems to show his age at the end of every season because his willingness to play through injuries. I saw this at Real Madrid where higuin would be his super sub after he went 60 – 70 minutes on their way to taking the title from barcelona who fell apart at the end. His ankle was all jacked up which is why his league debut was a disaster for MLS.
Beckham took some serious tackles through the MLS playoff run and got on and kept playing. That was extremely admirable to me and even donovan mentioned it as they hoisted the trophy. So if that is showing your age then I will enjoy getting older
If Beckaham continues playing like he did last year, he would be welcome on any team I support. People suggesting he’s not a real ‘baller sound like idiots.
Towards the end of last year Beckham’s body really showed its age. Going to PSG would probably hurt his image at this stage of his career and question his selection for the Olympics.
Playing 90 minutes and getting 5 assists and 2 goals in MLS looks better than playing 9-15 minutes here or there for PSG and having no statistics whatsoever. For LA Galaxy, it allows the face of the franchise to be all over the Olympics opening ceremony and festivities.
if this was Beckham at 28 or 30 I’d agree with you, but sadly, see what Matt S. says. This is about avoiding a long distance relationship with his family.
Beckham has made it clear that his priorities for 2012 are with England. Would Galaxy sign him on as part time player again?
You are the reason I changed my SBI name from “Chris.”
Why? Please leave
This also allows for his eldest son to continue training with the galaxy U-14 team as well plus have you seen PSG they lost to the redbulls nough said.
Good to know he’s going to stay someplace where he can retain his competitive edge in the run-up to the Olympics, rather than taking the easy money offered by a club in a retirement league. 🙂
My thoughts exactly, New York and L.A. Are MLS in the eyes of MLS I would bet my own kids that the league will tweak the rules in any way L.A. Wants.
A part of me thinks it would have been cool to see him go and do well in France. A feather in the cap of MLS, perhaps.
If this is true, then this is the best news of the year for the MLS. Unfortunately, many don’t understand financials so they won’t understand the true benefit of this. I would like to see a longer contract than a year. Even if Beckham drops in form a little he is still worth much to the league than what they would pay him.
So how is Garber going to expand the rules so the Galaxy can take on a fouth DP?
I think dropping out of Europa was a factor, too.
Beat me to it. MLS should give her desire to shop with TomKat a lifetime achievement award.
I see what you’re saying but as one of the biggest earning athletes in the world it isn’t about money anymore for Becks, its about being comfortable and keeping his family happy. If this was a younger player that wasn’t making boat loads of money then it would say a lot about the league.
Kind of happy to see him stay though. The league still needs those marquee players and names to bring attention to it and keep it increasing in popularity in the country.
+1
Ancelotti wins… He is said to prefer to have a real footballer join the roster(Kaka, Pato, Hulk…) rather than a walking billboard.
I think this is pretty cool. Choosing MLS/LA over PSG for any reason (particularly when PSG was likely offering a lot of money) is a good vote of confidence for the league.
Posh wins.
A certain sporting director at PSG sure sounds bitter.