Becks MLS Out Clause Discovered

By: chris | November 6th, 2008

When Becks signed that massive, massive contract with the LA Galaxy, everyone with half a brain cell had to be thinking “there’s an ironclad out-clause in there somewhere”. And guess what? They just found it.

Though his contract runs until 2011, Sports Illustrated has discovered Beckham can opt out after the 2009 season, which happens to be next year. So the question of “who the hell would pay enough money to buy out his contract?” is no longer valid. If he decides he wants out after his stint in Milan, MLS can either decide to get what they can for Becks or have him play out the remaining 6 or so months and let him walk for nada.

Normally, this isn’t a big deal. These are somewhat prevalent clauses in most American sports contracts. But because Becks is really the only truly recognizable face MLS has to show off to a global audience (not continental), it’s huge. Having him leave after just 1.5 or 2.5 seasons (should he and the Rossoneri fall deeply in love) would do nothing but cripple the already fragile global reputation of the league. Why should Europe’s aged stars go stateside and hope to aid a growing league when they can just go to the Middle East to do the same for more pay, all the while enjoying a sprouting lavish metropolis, with all the drums of oil one can dream of?

And it’s no great surprise that this info leaks when the team with the two biggest names in MLS, according to my sources, suck ass, and Becks is heading for an extended holiday to the San Siro, with Milan a team currently gobbling up any “names” the rest of the world is willing to sell off. Becks has played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, two of the most decorated teams in the world and is still the biggest name to casual fans in the game. Now he’s missing the playoffs in a league which is largely irrelevant outside of North America, and the arrival of Brand Beckham has done little to aid it in that respect. Hard to argue that the first exquisitely placed through ball waiting to be flung into the box or the first 1-2 with Kaka won’t have him wondering “what the hell was I thinking?”.

So how can the Galaxy, and MLS for that matter, possibly hope to keep him? If Milan proves too enjoyable, they probably can’t. David may love that paypacket, but deep down he’s an incredibly hard-working competitor, something his former coaches and teammates have lauded him for, and he’s still got a couple more years left in those legs. Losing, all while jeopardizing his England spot, has probably lost its luster. In the immortal words of a former LA sportsman, there’s only one thing left to do: Just win, baby.

Laurie will likely have more details here later.