Football: Beckham deal not close - Galaxy

Page last updated at 11:13 GMT, Friday, 20 February 2009

Beckham deal not close - Galaxy

Leiweke (right) says Galaxy would listen to an offer of £7m-£10.5m LA Galaxy supremo Tim Leiweke says AC Milan are "not close" to signing David Beckham after making a "ridiculous" offer for the midfielder two weeks ago. Beckham is on a short-term loan with Milan until 9 March but the Italian club want to keep him longer. But Leiweke, chief executive of the company that owns Galaxy, told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We are not close. "Two weeks ago Milan made a ridiculous offer ($3m or £2.1m) to which I replied 'no' in a few seconds." He added: "With that figure, Galaxy don't even cover the damages deriving from the shortfalls of not selling his shirts. "Since then, no-one has made any moves. There are no meetings arranged." David is a friend... but I will not be taken for a ride Tim Leiweke CEO of LA Galaxy's parent company Leiweke, the president and chief executive of LA Galaxy's parent company, AEG, has been angered by AC Milan's claims that they are close to signing the England international. On Thursday, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said: "In the past few hours we have taken steps forward. We are more confident now." Leiweke responded by saying: "I have decided to speak up because I have read too many inaccurate stories. "After that ridiculous offer, Milan have not done anything. They have tried other people, from the commissioner of the league (Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber) to David's representatives, but not us, who own his rights. "If David doesn't return, who will replace him? Our transfer market is already closed. If Milan are so determined to keep him, why are they taking so long? Do they think that we will settle for less money? They are mistaken." Leiweke says the ramifications of Beckham not returning would be damaging for both LA Galaxy and football as a whole in the United States. "What Milan don't understand is that behind this story, there are fans that are renouncing subscriptions, sponsors that want damages and rival teams that have the right to know if the Galaxy will play at their stadium with or without Beckham. "David is an incredible professional and I am happy for him and for Milan that his Italian experience is going so well. This confirms that our choice to bring him to the United States was the right one." Leiweke made it clear that he bears no grudge against Beckham. "David is a friend and asked me to listen to what Milan proposed," he said. "I have said yes, because of him. But I will not be taken for a ride and hence, on 9 March, Beckham will be in Los Angeles and will work with the same seriousness and dedication as before. "He already knows he doesn't have a choice because the first option to come out of his contract is at the end of 2009." Beckham signed a five-year contract with the Galaxy in January 2007 after a successful spell with Real Madrid. "What really matters is that Milan make a real offer," Leiweke said. "I don't wish to talk about the offer but the figures (between $10m and $15m, or £7m to £10.5m) that I have read in the United States are close to what we want."