DAVID Beckham is expected to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy after it was reported that AC Milan had not made a satisfactory bid for the midfielder before the end of yesterday's deadline.
The Rossoneri are keen to retain the 33-year-old's services after his loan spell from the Galaxy ends on March 9, and Major League Soccer said earlier this week the two clubs have until today to agree terms if the move is to go ahead.
However, the chief executive of Galaxy owners AEG, Tim Leiweke, told the Los Angeles Times that Milan did not meet Friday's deadline and that no late offer would be considered.
"He will be back here on March 9, and we don't want to entertain any more conversations now," Leiweke told the newspaper.
"It is a distraction to (Galaxy coach) Bruce Arena, the team and the fans, and we move on. That's the last we're going to talk about this."
Asked what would happen should the Italian giants return with an improved often now the deadline had passed, Leiweke was clear.
"They'll come back (with another offer), sure they will. But we owe it to our fans (not to consider it)," he said.
"They've been reading all these stories, and we lose credibility by the day. That's not fair. We owe it to Bruce and we owe it to the rest of the team. We're a month away from our season."
Last week, the Galaxy rejected Milan's first bid for Beckham, saying the England midfielder would return to Los Angeles as scheduled unless the Italians came up with a higher offer.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti had urged the Rossoneri to go the extra mile in order to keep Beckham at the San Siro after the Englishman earned a regular spot in the starting XI since his arrival in January, and has set up goals and found the back of the net for the Rossoneri.
However, Leiweke insists Milan's offers have never come close to meeting AEG's and the league's asking price of more than $10 million.
"They've never been in the ballpark," he said. "What they've tried to do is use David and use us. We're not going to play that game any more. This has been extremely damaging and distracting for our team.
"I've been as courteous and as gracious as I possibly can out of respect for David, but now it's time to move on. We need to get David excited about the team we're building here and coming back."
Leiweke also did not think Beckham would consider buying himself out of his contract in order to complete the move, even though the England midfielder has made it clear he wants to make his short-term spell in Serie A permanent.
"I doubt it," Leiweke said. "I don't think that's his intent. Nor would I encourage him to even think about that."
However, the chief executive of Galaxy owners AEG, Tim Leiweke, told the Los Angeles Times that Milan did not meet Friday's deadline and that no late offer would be considered.
"He will be back here on March 9, and we don't want to entertain any more conversations now," Leiweke told the newspaper.
"It is a distraction to (Galaxy coach) Bruce Arena, the team and the fans, and we move on. That's the last we're going to talk about this."
Asked what would happen should the Italian giants return with an improved often now the deadline had passed, Leiweke was clear.
"They'll come back (with another offer), sure they will. But we owe it to our fans (not to consider it)," he said.
"They've been reading all these stories, and we lose credibility by the day. That's not fair. We owe it to Bruce and we owe it to the rest of the team. We're a month away from our season."
Last week, the Galaxy rejected Milan's first bid for Beckham, saying the England midfielder would return to Los Angeles as scheduled unless the Italians came up with a higher offer.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti had urged the Rossoneri to go the extra mile in order to keep Beckham at the San Siro after the Englishman earned a regular spot in the starting XI since his arrival in January, and has set up goals and found the back of the net for the Rossoneri.
However, Leiweke insists Milan's offers have never come close to meeting AEG's and the league's asking price of more than $10 million.
"They've never been in the ballpark," he said. "What they've tried to do is use David and use us. We're not going to play that game any more. This has been extremely damaging and distracting for our team.
"I've been as courteous and as gracious as I possibly can out of respect for David, but now it's time to move on. We need to get David excited about the team we're building here and coming back."
Leiweke also did not think Beckham would consider buying himself out of his contract in order to complete the move, even though the England midfielder has made it clear he wants to make his short-term spell in Serie A permanent.
"I doubt it," Leiweke said. "I don't think that's his intent. Nor would I encourage him to even think about that."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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