The Beckham Saga

The LA Galaxy has confirmed that it has reached an agreement with AC Milan allowing David Beckham (DB) to stay on loan with Milan until the end of the Italian Season. Once the season is over, DB is expected to take a few days off and rejoin his Galaxy teammates for the rest of the MLS Season. At which point, DB can exercise his contract clause to become a free agent so he can join AC Milan on a permanent basis.

It is no mystery that a lot of decisions impacting the LA Galaxy made by AEG has less than brilliant, intelligent or even well reasoned. No argument there. However, this time around we have to give credit to AEG (Galaxy owner) for standing its ground in this DB matter.

AC Milan thought that given the LA Galaxy status as a football club at the international level, AEG would bow to their wishes and could be bullied into accepting the proposed deal of three millions Pounds ($5,000,000 approx.). This deal was outright rejected by AEG as insufficient and possibly insulting (my own emphasis).

Some individuals, especially those on blogs and sport boards, believed that a "low level" club such as the Galaxy was insignificant to play hard ball. What those individuals failed to see was that, beyond his football skills, DB is also a money-making machine. And AEG treated this whole saga as a business deal. What Milan failed to realize was the fact that American business people can and are shrew when it comes to making money.

Will there be negative backslash from the fans against DB? You bet! Fans felt from the beginning that DB did not act professionally when expressing his desire to stay in Italy. There has an overall feeling that he has looked down on the League. Whether this is true or not, DB has lot of fence mending to do when he comes back.