Is anyone seriously selling that this was much better than a simple buyout?
The owners of AC Milan and the owners of the Galaxy (the ubiquitous AEG) are very close to a complicated agreement that will make everyone sort of happy but nobody too mad.
At least the saga is over.
According to the terms of the proposed agreement, Beckham would extend his current loan to AC Milan beyond its March 9 expiration and play there until the May 31 Italian season finale.
He would then have to wait until the MLS international transfer window opens on July 15 to rejoin the Galaxy, meaning he would miss the first 17 games of the 30-game 2009 MLS season. His first match for the Galaxy would be on July 25 at Kansas City.
The Galaxy’s season could run through November, if the team reaches the MLS Finals. So, more than likely it ends a month a month before that.
Beckham will then get the holidays off because he will not join a team (said team is probably based out of the lovely Italian city of Milan) until the international transfer window opens again in January.
For letting him stay in Italy and only playing half a season with the junior varsity MLS the Galaxy will receive cash, Nobody knows how much, but probably between the $10 million they wanted and the $3 million they were first offered.
All of this means Los Angeles residents will have six more chances to see David Beckham don the Herbalife jersey and walk onto the pitch at the Home Depot Center for an MLS match. Well, except for the ones he misses when England calls him up for national team duty.
But all the public negotiations and millions of dollars given up are well worth those handful of games. Because Los Angeles can’t get enough of Beckham and the MLS. Or, maybe we can and have.
