David Beckham recently admitted that he’d like to remain at AC Milan after his loan spell is set to end on March 8th. Beckham joined the LA Galaxy, of the MLS, in a multi-million dollar 2007 transfer. He signed a $250 million contract with LA, which was suppose to bring one of football’s brightest lights to shine on American soil. But by all accounts the marriage has only soiled Beckham’s international prospects and LA’s 2008 season.With Beckham struggling to make it into England’s first eleven and LA failing to make it to the 2008 MLS finals, both sides seemed ripe for a trial separation. Enter AC Milan. One of Europe’s most storied clubs, Beckham gladly went on a three month loan to the San Siro. Beckham, now, is so happy with his new girlfriend (sorry Victoria, its only a metaphor!) he wants to divorce LA, to continue his Italian romance.
This is big news in the football world, because anything David Beckham does is well, big news. But it is big news here in the states for a different reason. David Beckham’s signing was meant to signal a new day in American soccer. It was the beginning of the MLS becoming an internationally known league. It was when the US finally got on board with the most popular game in the world.
Beckham, however, begs to differ. “At the moment Milan is more important than money. I want to think about football before everything else. I said in a clear manner what I think, I want to stay at Milan because I’ve rediscovered myself as a football player,” he told an Italian newspaper.
America was where his passion for the game had gone to die and in Italy he rediscovered why he loved the game. Beckham’s claim that his move away from LA Galaxy to AC Milan is not about the money, says more than a ridiculously wealthy person saying he’d take less money to play for the passion. It is a statement about the MLS, and by extension United States football.
According to Beckham, he can only glean his love of the game away from US pitches. The big money American contracts are not enough for Beckham, and he needs an actual challenge. He needs the competition of Italian football to regain his inclusion in his beloved England national team. He needs to escape LA.
What does this say to other prominent European footballers about the MLS? It says, don’t come here unless you’re prepared to essentially end your career. What does it say to young American footballers like Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore? You need to go overseas to truly find out how good you are. What does it say to American-raised footballers with duel citizenship, like Giuseppe Rossi? Why represent the US, when there are greener pitches out there.
Thank you David Beckham. At one point you were going to advance US soccer to where it strives to be, among its European and South American counterparts. Now you’ve just sent it spiraling back to years before you even thought about crossing the Atlantic.
Hmm. I don't think he's sent American football down any notches. I think it was already about as low as a sport could go. They need to develop a farm system and develop good players here, players who'll stay and play here. Getting excellent players from other countries can only supplement so much!
ReplyDeleteYes, but if you read my article about a homegrown American footballer named, Giuseppe Rossi, who chose to play for the Italian National team, then this may shed some light on the up-hill battle American soccer is facing, even from its own shores.
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense! Becks found out MLS is a waste of time, so now he wants to play meaningful football. It's as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteOne player from overseas is not going come here to "advance US soccer" like magic. Pele could not do it, so how could Beckham?
You sound like a teenage girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend.