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Becks Wants to Play in Milan But Own MLS

Italy's long national nightmare is finally over. The Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and David Beckham have reached an agreement that will keep Becks in Milan until the end of the Italian season, when he will head to the City of Angels to join the Galaxy. Everyone came out a winner in this agreement, as AC Milan got Becks for a full season as they wanted, Beckham got to stay in Europe and match fit for an England call up and the Galaxy did not have to pay to make sure Beckham shows up. Beckham paid Milan to make this deal happen. What the Galaxy ultimately received in return for allowing Beckham to remain with Milan has not been revealed but they were asking for between $10-12 million, while Milan was offering $2-3 million. Presumably, Beckham helped to fund the gap.

The most interesting nugget that came out of the whole affair is the revelation by Beckham that he has an option on the ownership of a MLS franchise upon his retirement from his playing career.

"I have an option to own an MLS franchise as soon as I finish playing and I will start that immediately," he told Reuters. "It is something that I'm really excited about and so hopefully that proves to a lot of people that I am committed to making the game bigger and better in the U.S."

So, MLS fans, it looks like we're doomed to put up with Posh for years to come and here I thought they were headed back to Europe on his free transfer at the end of the Galaxy's season.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on March 09, 2009 (boomark / email).