After playing for the Galaxy since 2007, Beckham has decided he wants to move on. While playing for AC Milan on loan, it seems that he has discovered his love of European football once again.Many die-hard soccer fans are questioning why Beckham even came to the US in the first place. Beckham’s rebuttal? "Ever since I signed for the Galaxy, people have questioned why I have come to America, but every move I've made in my career has been about football for me.” American soccer fans seemed to be convinced by this comment that Beckham would stay in the US--but it was not to be.
In reference to AC Milan, Beckham’s wife stated that “The quality of the team and players have got him hooked." Beckham seems to play soccer at a different level, and American soccer is simply too young to be as strong a league as AC Milan’s Serie A.
Many of Worthington Christian staff members and students want Beckham to leave the US. “I think he came over here for all the wrong reasons. If he just came for the money, he should have just said it,” stated senior Shane Fultz. Coach Roads, WCHS boys’ soccer coach, said, “good, get him outta here…he made the MLS look bad.” It seems that Beckham is no longer wanted here--even by soccer fans.
The LA Galaxy and AC Milan both want Beckham, though. Tim Leiweke, a MLS executive, said of Beckham “We understand his infatuation with playing on the world's most popular club team right now, and we understand his trying to mentally get around the idea of coming back to play with a team that didn't make the playoffs in MLS last year.”It appears that the MLS “understands” Beckham’s desire to play for AC Milan; however, it seems that the MLS doesn’t respect his desire as much as they want him to stay in their league.
AC Milan did not back down in their quest for Beckham to play with them. The club continued to pursue Beckham with offers peaking at $3 million. The LA Galaxy, however, is trying to get the Italian team to offer between $10 and $15 million.
However, in the end the struggle has proven to be fruitless for AC Milan. The top MLS executives have decided that Beckham must at least stay with the Galaxy for next season. For the moment, it appears that Beckham’s dreams of Italy are just that: dreams.
(photo credits: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/: la.galaxy.mlsnet.com)
