AC Milan are reportedly trying to sign David Beckham, probably the most marketable, sales boosting player in Europe, for a measly £4.5 million. On top of his worth from a marketing perspective, he still has a fantastic engine, vision, and remarkably precise passing ability. “How dare they try to pry him away from America for so cheap?” you ask. Beckham’s clever lawyers snuck a clause in what must be an elaborate contract, which allows him to leave America FOR FREE next October. When put that way, Milan seems generous.Too me, a yank who wants nothing more than soccer to become popular in the US, it seems like a slimy move. Although Milan do not realize or care about the negative repercussions of their actions, there will be many.
First, Beckham has obviously become the poster boy for soccer in America. When I first heard about the move to Milan, I was thrilled because it meant that Beckham would stay in shape, continue playing for England, and silence all of the ignorant morons that claim he is a ghost of his former self. From this perspective, he seems to have fully fulfilled at least two of my hopes (regrettably fans of other sports and just generally unknowledgeable people still love to claim that Beckham is “way past his prime”). Unfortunately, my initial euphoria has long since diminished with the increasing prevalence of claims that Beckham will indeed remain with Milan after his loan spell has expired. If Milan were indeed successful in their endeavor to capture his signature, it would be an enormous blow to the chances of soccer catching on in America. Landon Donovan, another MLS/ LA Galaxy poster boy, already looks set to make his move to Bayern Munich a permanent one. Consequently the combined absence of stars in the LA Galaxy, and the loss of those two from the league would be cataclysmic. It would show that not only is the MLS incapable of holding onto it’s talented American players, but it can’t even hold onto the “old-timers” that are supposed to be too old, slow, and greedy to play anywhere else.
Second, Beckham’s move away would confirm that the level of play in the MLS is not satisfactory for world-class players, something that we already knew but are reluctant to admit.
Third, ticket sales will drop significantly without the promise of seeing David Beckham, and the league’s teams may begin to falter in these rough economic times.
The list goes on indefinitely. All I can say is that if Beckham did indeed decide to leave, it would be an act of betrayal towards the fans like me whom have been waiting so long for the coming of the soccer Messiah, who will usher in a new age of enthusiasm towards soccer in this country.
