Beckham leaving Real Madrid.

[Dodge]

That puts him on more than any other sports star in the US (team wise)

[Metrostars]

LA are paying for his image more than they are for his play. It's all about the media coverage and the publicity leading to the shirts he will sell, more butts in MLS stadiums, higher TV rights etc. Oh yeah, he also plays a bit of footie. Ronaldo will be next (to NY). They will be like the kick in the arse that the NASL got in the 70's when Pele started playing for the NY Cosmos. Except I hope it doesnt lead to the destruction of MLS like the way such spending bankrupted the NASL in the early 80's.

[cavan_fan]

LA are paying for his image more than they are for his play. It's all about the media coverage and the publicity leading to the shirts he will sell, more butts in MLS stadiums, higher TV rights etc. Oh yeah, he also plays a bit of footie. Ronaldo will be next (to NY). They will be like the kick in the arse that the NASL got in the 70's when Pele started playing for the NY Cosmos. Except I hope it doesnt lead to the destruction of MLS like the way such spending bankrupted the NASL in the early 80's.

The reported salary makes no sense. He'll be earning 4 times more than Ballack. I suspect in the next few days we'll hear the real figure. If Beckham isnt worth 1 milllion euro a week to Real who have entry to the CL and a TV market more profitable than the football one in the US, then he's not worth it to LA.

[Dodge]

The reported salary makes no sense. He'll be earning 4 times more than Ballack. I suspect in the next few days we'll hear the real figure. If Beckham isnt worth 1 milllion euro a week to Real who have entry to the CL and a TV market more profitable than the football one in the US, then he's not worth it to LA.

But Beckham isn't even the biggest star in Real madrid's midfield. Besides they got their use out of him. If this signing makes ESPN's sportscentre the it'll have been worth it. The salary doesn't matter, MLS are spending $50 million on making sure america knows about "soccer" and trying to make it look like a legitimate league to the europeans living there

[shakermaker1982]

500 thousand quid a week? Frightening, it really is. To make matters worse he was famous for his missus and his sarongs rather than his abilty/ style of play. Yeah he could take a decent corner and free kick but he was no Zidane, Figo, peak Ronaldo etc etc.

[Metrostars]

His real salary is $3m a year. The rest are endorsements. Whether he now owns his image rights 100% or if AEG(LA Galaxy owners) owns his image rights is the question.

[renovater]

we now no who wearing the pants in the the becks house, what vicky wants vicky gets
small lost hope he send us a post card?

[Dodge]

His real salary is $3m a year. The rest are endorsements. Whether he now owns his image rights 100% or if AEG(LA Galaxy owners) owns his image rights is the question.

Adidias heavily involved too.

http://espn.go.com/
As of 10.45 (or 5.45 New York time, Beckham is the top story on the ESPN website). Job done...

[drinkfeckarse]

I would've thought that if L.A. are giving him $250m over 5 years then they'll be taking every cent of his image rights. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to be paying that to someone who is over the hill.

I think it's important to remember that every year Beckham gets older then the less endorsments he gets. His star is waning already admittedly this might just be the boost it needs. He's already lost a multi million pound Gillette deal. I would have been shocked if the deal had been worth half of what he got so I hope it's not reckless spending on L.A.'s part.

On a personal level, any respect I had for him is long gone. Using the "I want to make football bigger in America" line is code for "This is the only place that I'm not automatically recognised and it's a massive opertunity for me and Victoria to get into the movies and become global phenomenons".

He had a chance to step back from the limelight and give their kids a semi normal upbringing (the interest would go eventually if they chose to step back) but instead their own ego's got in the way.

No sympathy whatsoever for him and his family for press intrusion and paparazzi etc. They've brought it on themselves with all their attention seeking.

[papa-j]

You want to sell soccer in America? Vend it like Beckham.

You want to repair the divide between the millions of Americans who play soccer and the thousands who actually watch it? Mend it like Beckham.

You want people to think soccer here will finally become a major sport and live happily ever after? Pretend it like Beckham.

Arguably the world's most famous athlete is coming to work in Los Angeles, but there's something you should know.

David Beckham is not joining the Galaxy as an athlete, but as an advertising campaign. He is coming as soccer swag, a walking Super Bowl commercial, a big-haired billboard.

His job here is not to win, but to give his sport one last chance to work in the biggest place where it doesn't.

His success will be defined not by corner kicks, but by converts.

[anto1208]

LA Galaxy , has he finally admitted to himself that he can't cut it the highest level
He might as well have gone playing American football as a place kicker.

Well at 34 there isnt many that could cut it at the top level .

plus a 5 year deal worth £126 million sterling and going to a country where he will be respected rather than slated all the time might just have tempted him

[drinkfeckarse]

Well at 34 there isnt many that could cut it at the top level .

plus a 5 year deal worth £126 million sterling and going to a country where he will be respected rather than slated all the time might just have tempted him

He's 31.

[drinkfeckarse]

You want to sell soccer in America? Vend it like Beckham.

You want to repair the divide between the millions of Americans who play soccer and the thousands who actually watch it? Mend it like Beckham.

You want people to think soccer here will finally become a major sport and live happily ever after? Pretend it like Beckham.

Arguably the world's most famous athlete is coming to work in Los Angeles, but there's something you should know.

David Beckham is not joining the Galaxy as an athlete, but as an advertising campaign. He is coming as soccer swag, a walking Super Bowl commercial, a big-haired billboard.

His job here is not to win, but to give his sport one last chance to work in the biggest place where it doesn't.

His success will be defined not by corner kicks, but by converts.

Been reading the L.A.Times today pap-j?

[papa-j]

Been reading the L.A.Times today pap-j?

ya you got me, you did'nt think I wrote that all by myself did you!

[eirebhoy]

Just watching the press conference atm. "I realise I'm not recognised as much in the United States but hopefully playing for the Galaxy will change that". I thought it says a lot about Beckham. He came across very well in fairness though.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Sad that football wasn't the main motive behind his move. I would have loved to see him go back to Man Utd- he would have been a big improvement on Fletcher, O'Shea and the likes.

[gustavo]

Doubt he would go back to Manchester United as long as Fergie was in charge and couldnt see him going to any other English club such was his loyalty to that club . I've always had a lot of respect for him the way he handles himself and his professionalism as a footballer

[Den Perry]

I would've thought that if L.A. are giving him $250m over 5 years then they'll be taking every cent of his image rights. Otherwise it doesn't make sense to be paying that to someone who is over the hill.

I think it's important to remember that every year Beckham gets older then the less endorsments he gets. His star is waning already admittedly this might just be the boost it needs. He's already lost a multi million pound Gillette deal. I would have been shocked if the deal had been worth half of what he got so I hope it's not reckless spending on L.A.'s part.

On a personal level, any respect I had for him is long gone. Using the "I want to make football bigger in America" line is code for "This is the only place that I'm not automatically recognised and it's a massive opertunity for me and Victoria to get into the movies and become global phenomenons".

He had a chance to step back from the limelight and give their kids a semi normal upbringing (the interest would go eventually if they chose to step back) but instead their own ego's got in the way.

No sympathy whatsoever for him and his family for press intrusion and paparazzi etc. They've brought it on themselves with all their attention seeking.

Couldnt agree more. I usedth ti like the guy, but this is just the pits...just shows he loves the celebrity value more than football....Hope he enjoys his time with that Cruise Tosser....I wonder will he live in compton, seeing as he loves his hip hop so much?

[YankExile]

Ok, here's what I've been wondering: his Madrid contract expires June 30th. He will be reporting to LA in August. What is he going to be doing in the meantime? If he is free at the end of June, why not report to LA and take full advantage of his celebrity as fast as he can? If it's about needing the time to move, I'm guessing he should have plenty of free time seeing as how Capello has announced DB won't see any playing time till the end of his contract. He will still be obligated to show up at the games I assume but the effort he needs to put into Madrid has been reduced effectively to zero.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Ok, here's what I've been wondering: his Madrid contract expires June 30th. He will be reporting to LA in August. What is he going to be doing in the meantime? If he is free at the end of June, why not report to LA and take full advantage of his celebrity as fast as he can?

Because he will be on holidays from his job.

If it's about needing the time to move, I'm guessing he should have plenty of free time seeing as how Capello has announced DB won't see any playing time till the end of his contract. He will still be obligated to show up at the games I assume but the effort he needs to put into Madrid has been reduced effectively to zero.

He will still have to show up to first team training.

Surely what Capello is doing has to be in some way illegal. You can hardly just decide not to play a player because they refused a contract.