Don Garber Says Beckham Will Return In Time For '09 MLS Season

Garber "Frustrated" With Beckham Loan To AC Milan, Says Loan Will Happen On MLS' Terms

MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday said that if the league loans Galaxy MF David Beckham to Italian Serie A club AC Milan, "he will return next year in time to begin training" with the Galaxy, according to Jack Bell of the N.Y. TIMES. Garber said of Beckham's loan: "You can tell that I’m frustrated. There’s been incredible noise, and when it comes to David Beckham, incredible excitement. People don’t understand what’s going on here. He is not being transferred, and the stories that he is not going to come back are ridiculous." Garber added, "Milan wants him for two months because they know it’s better than not having him at all. But we’re only willing to do it if it’s on our terms and if it’s satisfactory to the Galaxy. If not, it won’t be approved by us" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/28).

ON THE ATTACK? SI.com's Greg Lalas wrote MLS and the Galaxy with this loan "have a chance to wrestle back some real control of the situation." They "now have leverage," because "in reality, they don't have to let him go to Milan." The league and the Galaxy "have every right to slam him for talking to Milan behind their backs." MLS and the Galaxy "should demand a cut of Beckham's Milan jersey sales," and the league should "get a couple of exhibition games out of the deal." Perhaps they can "renegotiate various Beckham-specific sponsorship deals." But ultimately, what the MLS and the Galaxy "must demand from Beckham himself is a measure of respect" (SI.com, 10/27).