Beckham Makes First Public Comments On Milan/Galaxy Agreement

Beckham Discusses AC Milan/Galaxy Deal During Appearance On NBC's "Today"

Galaxy MF David Beckham appeared live via satellite from Milan, Italy, on NBC’s “Today” this morning in what is his first U.S. interview since reaching an agreement to remain with AC Milan until the end of May and then join the Galaxy in July. Beckham: “I want to play for my country, I want to play in the World Cup in 2010, and to do that I have to be playing here in Europe and I have to be playing at the highest level.” He added, “It doesn’t mean that I’m still not committed to my role as an ambassador in the MLS and also committed to the Galaxy.” Beckham said he wants to return to MLS “without a doubt,” noting he is “still committed to my contract with the Galaxy.” Beckham: “I’ve got a lot of respect for Tim Leiweke and everybody that brought me there” (“Today,” NBC, 3/11). Beckham also appeared on ESPN's "SportsCenter" in a taped interview said he was "looking forward" to his return to MLS, which is scheduled for July 16 in N.Y. ESPN's Hannah Storm noted some analysts, including former Galaxy President & GM Alexi Lalas, have said Beckham would be booed upon his return to the U.S. Beckham: “There will be a certain amount of criticism. It’s a shame that, obviously, certain people come out and add to that and give it more chance of happening. But at the end of the day, I can only make that turnaround by the way I perform on the pitch and my commitment to the team, and I’ll show that when I get back” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/11). Beckham later directly addressed Lalas' comments, saying “Maybe he’ll be one of them in the stands doing it (booing)” (SPORTSCENTER.com, 3/11).

DEAL ASSESSMENT: MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, “The European football community continues to underestimate the resolve that our ownership has to ensure that we're managing the league in a way that will help grow the sport and establish it solidly for the future. We were not just going to give into Milan's demands or David's desire to leave the league without doing a deal that made sense. Would I rather have not gone through the process that we went through? Absolutely. So I think we have a very positive solution to a very difficult situation" (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 3/9). ESPN.com's Ives Galarcep on his blog wrote, "I'm not sure how anybody can call it a bad deal for the Galaxy." The team "probably came away with more than some would have expected the club to fetch," and the "fact that the Galaxy got what it got for what is essentially an extended loan is impressive." AC Milan "kicked in money and Beckham kicked in by waiving half his $6.5[M] MLS salary," and "if those figures are to be believed" then Galaxy will receive around $7-8M. Galarcep: "Throw in the AC Milan-LA Galaxy friendly on July 19th, which should sell out Home Depot Center, and the Galaxy are staring at an extremely impressive windfall for simply loaning out Beckham for four months" (SOCCERBYIVES.net, 3/9). But SI.com's Andrea Canales wrote the deal "seems like nothing other than a perfunctory stint to tie up a few loose sponsorship ends" (SI.com, 3/9).

PLAYING HARDBALL: SOCCER AMERICA's Ridge Mahoney wrote "if any sports executive can make the best out of his on-going, very public squabble" over Beckham's loan to AC Milan it is Leiweke. Premier Partnerships President & CEO Randy Bernstein: "I have no doubt that Tim will find ways to overcompensate corporate sponsors, advertisers, season-ticket holders and general fans in a way that will make them comfortable with the future of the L.A. Galaxy" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 3/9).