Milan/Galaxy Beckham Deal

It looks like a deal is to be announced between AC Milan and LA Galaxy for David Beckham’s services which will see Beckham stay in Italy until the end of the Italian Season in June. Beckham will then re-join LA Galaxy for the second half of the MLS season until late in 2009. Then probably in November or early December the transfer will go through and Beckham will rejoin AC Milan and play out the Second Half of the 2009/10 season.

Beckham’s deal with Milan was supposed to be so that he could keep his fitness levels up and play in a higher quality league so that his fitness and form could be maintained; and in fact on both counts has improved. But if Beckham is to go through with the above deal this could backfire on him and on England.

When England were good enough to qualify for tournaments a few years back optimism was quickly replaced with disappointment when the England teams rolled up and looked lethargic and slow after competing in draining Premier League Seasons. Manager Sven Goran Eriksson openly and repeatedly called for a winter break and endorsed the notions that the players were tired after long domestic seasons.

Beckham by the time the 2010 World Cup comes around will have played from early 2008 to summer 2010 with much reduced periods of rest and will be 35 at the time of the World Cup. Beckham’s desire for success is as strong as ever, but 2010 could be a tournament too far.

I also have sympathy with The LA Galaxy and the MLS. Their big money move for Beckham was designed to try and raise the profile of soccer in America and potentially lure a few big named 30+ stars over to play in their league. I don’t think they will feel they have got their money’s worth, what with Beckham’s injuries and desire to leave well before his contract is up.