Beckham to leave Real

[Dan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6248835.stm

Didn't see that coming.

[Lowerdeck]

$10 says he's going to New York Red Bulls

[figos]

Well, his career at Real Madrid was a huge disappointment and he only stayed this long because he sells tons of merchandise.

[9 to 5]

Well, Tugay needs an under-study. >_>

[ONO]

Looks like he'll leave this month then as Madrid are going to be looking some money, and I really can't see them letting him go for fuck all. This is basically a ploy saying "Come get him". He'll go to Inter.

[ePw1]

i'd be willing to bet my life that Newcastle will be linked with him.

[Dan]

Well, his career at Real Madrid was a huge disappointment and he only stayed this long because he sells tons of merchandise.

Sounds like half of the Real team.

I'm putting my money on newcastle or 'boro.

[alldaws1]

i'd be willing to bet my life that Newcastle will be linked with him.

And Spurs.

I'd like him to go to an MLS team. Could put the league on the map

[fourstarfizzle]

Seems the stories been changed on BBC, but I still reckon he's on his way out.

[ONO]

Looks like he'll leave this month then as Madrid are going to be looking some money, and I really can't see them letting him go for fuck all. This is basically a ploy saying "Come get him". He'll go to Inter.

[AJ]

I saw on Sky Sports News this morning that he's 5/4 to go to any MLS club. 10/1 each to go to Newcastle, Spurs or West Ham. 40/1 for a return to ManU.

I'd like to see him back in the Premiership, rather than in the states.

[Herr Matzat]

http://www.eurosport.com/football/la-liga/...to1052113.shtml

Beckham: I've signed for Galaxy

David Beckham has revealed that he will sign a five-year contract with LA Galaxy in the summer.

The Real Madrid star will switch to MLS and lead a whole new era for the sport in the United States.

"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," he told Reuters.

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisers to either stay here in Madrid or join other British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

Beckham was free to discuss a deal with any club outside of Spain but will remain at the Bernabeu for the remainder of the season.

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old has been used sparingly by coach Fabio Capello this term and is jetting off for a new chapter in his remarkable life in August.

The deal could be worth up to €250 million (around £128 million) to the former Manchester United favourite.

Edited January 11, 2007 by Michael Matzat on a Plane

[Liam]

Beckham should go to the US, if only because he'd make a tonne of money and be head and shoulders above most of the players in the league.

[GA!]

Wow... I bet that'll be like a PE teacher playing against school kids. More power to him I say!

[Ananas]

So it's a 5 year $250,000,000 contract, that's 50mil per year:

Okay, so the Home Depot Center (Galaxy's home stadium) seats 27,000. Let's say the average ticket is $50. 16 home games, let's say they sell out every game... that's $21,600,000. So if they can make up $28,400,000 in merchandising, licensing, broadcast revenue, away gates... they can start paying off everyone else's contracts and other expenses. Anyone else having trouble making financial sense of this deal?

[figos]

Nevertheless, he will be billed as "The Greatest English Player of the past decade" even tough he sucks IMO.

[Liam]

Gotta love the use of hyperbolic phrases such as "suck" for someone like Beckham.

You may not like him, doesn't mean he sucks.

[figos]

Come on man, the only thing he does right is free kicks and corner kicks. I'll give him that title, he's the best set piece taker in the world.

[Liam]

I'm not a huge Beckham fan, but he is an asset to the right team.

[Guest President Ringiah Bartlet]

Beckham was great for Man Utd, just because Real Madrid played him out of position his first season and then moved him to the right in a 4-3-3 that was failed, doesn't mean he's not a good player.

Personally though, I'm curious as to see whether he'll do well in the MLS. That money is fucking crazy too.