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Beckham confirms US move
11/01/2007 17:20 - (SA)
Madrid - Former England captain David
Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign
a five-year deal for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, he told
Reuters on Thursday.
The 31-year-old, who joined Real from Manchester United in
June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League
Soccer since it began in 1996.
"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding
my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two
seasons," Beckham told Reuters.
"After discussing several options with my family and my
advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major
British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and
play in the MLS from August this year."
Text of David Beckham's statement announcing his move from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy:
This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract by a further two seasons. After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay here at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.
I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make. I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans.
I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.
For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100 percent to my coach, teammates and fans as I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve.
- Reuters
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