MLS: Beckham signing impacts Donovan
Submitted by Robert Daeley on Tue, 2007-01-16 11:27.
Greg Daurio at MLSnet.com covers a side story of Becks coming to the Galaxy — the impact it will have on one of their existing stars (and Redlands native) Landon Donovan: “Beckham signing impacts Donovan”,
Called by many the ‘Beckham Rule’ since its implementation by Major League Soccer, the league’s designated player rule became permanently linked with its namesake last week when the Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham to a landmark deal.
In its simplest explanation, the rule allows any team to sign any player to any amount of money it so chooses and said player’s salary will only count as $400,000 against the league salary cap.
Landon’s salary will apparently be “grandfathered” in this year — as of next season, however, the Galaxy will have to trade either him or Beckham. Alternatively, the team could trade for another designated player slot, which could be an expensive proposition:
The standard has already been set fairly high for the value of a designated player spot. Chivas USA sent its slot to New York in exchange for Amado Guevara, a former league MVP. Based on that trade it’s unclear what the Galaxy would have to offer, but according to [team president Alexi] Lalas it’s too early in the game to put a clear cut value on a designated player slot.
In other Beckham news, he might be able to play in the MLS much sooner than expected, thanks to some acrimonious talk from Real Madrid.
The Real Madrid president suggested it was the club’s decision to get rid of the 31-year-old player even though it had previously offered him a two-year contract extension. Calderon also criticized Beckham’s conduct, saying on Monday his representatives had toyed with the club.
Sounds like a teenager — “She didn’t break up with me — I broke up with her!”
In any case, the team would have to buy out Beckham’s contract. Perhaps a more likely scenario now with all the childish whining going on, but as Alexi Lalas said,
We would love to have David Beckham at the earliest opportunity, but I’m not holding my breath.