Beckham Completes AC Milan Switch. No, Really. I Swear.

By: NathanHJ | March 8th, 2009

Everyone’s favorite biggest star in the world of futbol, David Beckham has finally, officially, completed the switch to AC Milan, ending the soap opera in which millions of electrons were killed to provide up-to-the second speculation, rumor, and (mis)information. As about a trillion futbol and so-called news sites are reporting, Becks, AEG, AC Milan, the LA Galaxy, MLS, Scott Boras, Zelig, and my sainted aunt have reached a deal that follows the contours of the info leaked to the press earlier in the week.

For a round-up of this story from the LA metroplex you can read the Grahame Jones story I linked to above, or check in with Nick Green at his 100 Percent Soccer blog (complete with snarky commentary). For some reason (sanity?) Luis Bueno is concentrating on some other team that plays futbol at the HDC. Some team named after a nationalistic herb or something – Chives USA? But I digress.

Everyone is reporting what we already knew: Becks stays with Milan until June, comes back the G’s in July, and then splits for good to the Rossoneri in November (though AEG continues to say “if” not “when” on this point). But there are two interesting pieces for the fans here.

(1) July ~~17th~~ 19th friendly between the Galaxy and AC Milan at the HDC.
(2) 10% across-the-board reduction in ticket prices with refunds to be given to people who have already purchased tickets.

In this entire saga, these two things are the most fan-respectful things that the Galaxy have done. Besides canning Alexi Lalas, that is. It’s almost as if AEG is trying to get beyond the recent years of fan abuse and try to reconcile with us.

To which I say, “It’s a good start, but its just a start.” I fully expect that the AC Milan game will be a bonus game for season ticket holders. I except that the Galaxy will use the cap and roster space this deal creates to shore up the weak points in the team (take your pick here, but I’m hoping for a solid holding midfielder or a Michael Parkhurst-type centerback).

And I expect that they will stop this ridiculous “Superclub” self-promotion and remember that we play in a young league with a salary cap that is the equivalent of the minimum salary of the lowliest benchwarmer on real Superclubs. Let’s just win some games in MLS, maybe make the CCL and beat some Mexican teams, and maybe win the domestic treble before we get all knicker-twised about the possibility of playing a dinar-dripping friendly in Dubai or whereever. I’m just sayin’.

So. That’s all done. Good.

Let’s play some futbol.

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: 2009 Preseason, MLS Money Matters, MLS News, Player News, Team News, Transfer Rumors

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Frank

Mr. Me twists his ankle...

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news...
Justin

we traded Wicks to DC for a draft pick in 2010
jen

Two great articles by Ives with even more information about the deal, and Garber addresses the salary cap space:

http://www.soccerbyives.net/so...

http://www.soccerbyives.net/so...
Justin

This opens up a big chunk of change for our Galaxy. Garber said Becks only counts for half of his cap hit.
Colin

Beckham must think we're REALLY stupid. Can we start a "Boo Beckham Bandwagon"? Pass out "BECKHAM SUCKS" shirts before each home match?

"Also, I read something in one of the British tabloids (can’t remember which one, and of course you have to consider the source) that said Bruce said that if the team is performing well in July, Beckham may not play."

I've seen Bruce's style as a GM/Coach firsthand, and I can actually believe that he would say and do this. Whether or not AEG would come down on him hard is another story...
DM

Who does Becks play for in the friendly? Milan 1st half, Galaxy in the second?
Nicole

I don't want Beckham in a Galaxy uniform, ever.
Eric from Attacking90

You wrote:
...and remember that we play in a young league with a salary cap that is the equivalent of the minimum salary of the lowliest benchwarmer on real Superclubs. Let’s just win some games ... Let’s play some futbol.

Amen. Walk before you run, learn to fall before you learn to fly. Lets hope for a MLS season of quality play, that's a milestone that will mean a lot.

cheers
Laurie

Also, I read something in one of the British tabloids (can't remember which one, and of course you have to consider the source) that said Bruce said that if the team is performing well in July, Beckham may not play.

Wouldn't that be an interesting end to the saga?
Laurie

Scott, maybe we can sell Frisco on a little Ljungberg love. I mean, underwear models are basically interchangeable, right?
Frank

I was hoping that he was gone for good. Unfortunately, the clown and his circus will return in July. Also, I could care less about AC Milan playing a friendly in the middle of our season.
Mike

It was said the price reduction was an Average of 10% not across the board.

I think it is pretty good except that he is going to come back for a few months. I would rather get some money back than see Beckham anymore and watching AC Milan is a nice extra. I really hope he doesn't mess up our chemistry when he does come and play for a little bit. If he does play bad when he comes back I hope Bruce will have the balls to bench him if need be.