Jwo 7 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and join side Los Angeles Galaxy on a £128m ($250m) five-year deal. The former England captain will leave Real in June and begin his new career in Major League Soccer in August Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saran 1 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 Yeah I was just about to post this. This is f-ing crazy! I can't believe he is leaving Europe for soccer. I wonder how badly the Euros are gonna react to this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 Beckham is gonna make $50 million a year. YOWZA. That is unreal. 'Course, you had to know he'd end up in LA. What, the world's most recognizable, self-proclaimed-glamorous, married-to-Posh-Spice soccer player was gonna head to Columbus, Ohio? Nowhere but LA. I really do hope this gives a boost to USA soccer though. MLS needs to be strong for USA Soccer to be strong. And I still want an MLS team in Detroit. They could call it Detroit City, after the MLS naming convention of blatantly ripping off names of famous teams overseas (D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, etc.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 Other rumors is Ronaldo might come to the U.S. in the future. big money = good in someways. This shows that you can make the big bucks in MLS and just not in the MLB, NFL and NBA. So hopefully the youth of America stays with soccer once they get into their teens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 Other rumors is Ronaldo might come to the U.S. in the future. big money = good in someways. This shows that you can make the big bucks in MLS and just not in the MLB, NFL and NBA. So hopefully the youth of America stays with soccer once they get into their teens. Yes. And the other thing is, big bucks is the only thing that would draw international soccer stars to the US. That and the novelty of it. Beckham could have had his pick of any club in the world - he won't play anywhere in England but for Man U., from what I've read, and having done Real Madrid he could now go for Juventus or AC Milan or Bayern Munich or any other prestigious team in Europe. (If I can name a European soccer team off the top of my head, which is rare, it's probably a pretty high-profile club that a guy like Beckham might go to.) The glitz of LA, the novelty of MLS, and the big bucks (especially the big bucks) is what brought Beckham here. It wouldn't surprise me at all if someone else came up with that kind of money for Ronaldo or some other BIG name. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mannysBETTER3434 1 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 If Ronaldino came to the U.S I would probably die right there on the spot. I was in Central America/Mexico last year, and I watched probably 4-5 of his games. He's totally an amazing athlete. But with Beckham coming, and possibly Ronaldo that would be huge for U.S. soccer. I also heard Zedine (the head butter) has also expressed intrest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted January 14, 2007 Zidane gonna come out of retirement to play in the U.S.? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted January 14, 2007 So how come Beckham is coming over? Is he too old/washed up to play in Europe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted January 14, 2007 I think a quarter billion dollars has something to do with it. Oh, also there's this hilarious bulls*** lie about trying to promote soccer in America. From what I understand, since I'm no soccer fan, is that at this point in his career Beckhman is only above average but a great penalty kicker. I know Pele was a world class footballer but couldn't get the ball rolling in the US of A and I doubt this pretty boy has a shot either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jwo 7 Report post Posted January 14, 2007 Beckham has said he wouldt mind playing in America in the past years Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 How can an MLS franchise afford to pay one player $50 million a year and have any hopes of making any money? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mannysBETTER3434 1 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 How can an MLS franchise afford to pay one player $50 million a year and have any hopes of making any money? I was wondering the same thing, but I do know that the 50 million includes endorsments. So maybe Nike, or some other big name company is paying for a big chunk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 From wikipedia A major difference between Beckham's contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy and the one with Real Madrid is that Beckham will now get to keep 100% of his endorsement money. This was a major cause of the breakdown in Beckham's negotiations with Real Madrid, as his previous contract stated that Real Madrid would earn 50% of any money from Beckham's image rights. Beckham had received a promise from former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez that his next contract would let the money from Beckham's image rights go specifically to Beckham. However, the new president told Beckham that they were not willing to renegotiate his image rights. Beckham's endorsements with various companies, such as Motorola, Pepsi, Volkswagen, and Gillette have been valued at between $25 and $30 million a year.[20] Over the five years at the Galaxy, Beckham could potentially make around $275 millon.[1] The annual breakdown of this is: $10 million salary. $25 million from existing sponsorship deals with Motorola, Pepsi, Gillette and Volkswagen. $10 million from shirt sales. $10 million return from stakes in the club. This means that Beckham will receive around $55 million a year, equating to $275 million over the five years of the deal. This figure could increase if Beckham receives a pay raise from any of the parties involved. The deal itself has been seen as the highest profile transfer ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 so basically $10 mill for salary and $10 mill for his stake in the club. still seems like it'll be awfully hard to afford. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaKineMaui 8 Report post Posted February 2, 2007 I hope the MLS does well with this move for selfish reasons. My cousin Greg just got traded (or bought out by the Montreal Impact?). He's now with the Toronto FC. He is or was Team Canada's starting goalkeep in that World Cup thing as well. He pisses me off because he is good looking and nice and smokes the rest of the family at our annual golf tourney/family reunions EVERY year. He and his younger twin brothers have been shooting scratch for about 10 years now. My team will cheat next year. (Nine hole scramble - I'll fill out our card IN ADVANCE this summer.) Anyways - If anybody would like tix to one of those home games, drop me a note. Greg's stats and awards >> BIO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LondonWing 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2007 So how come Beckham is coming over? Is he too old/washed up to play in Europe? He's not so much washed up but was never ever very good anyway. The ultimate hype over substance sports star. He is a one trick pony and that is taking free kicks. Other than that he offers nothing to a club other than merchandise sales - which is the main reason Real Madrid signed him. Most people here in England have been wanting him dropped from the England team for a very long time. Beckham and his wife must surely go into the Guinness book of records for the highest amount of money earned compared to talent ratio Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
