Beckham looking at Galaxy ownership for the future

Published on Monday 23 November 2009 22:57

DAVID Beckham has an option to own a future 20th team in Major League Soccer, the North American league's commissioner has said – and it is an option the player is keen to take up.

Speaking to reporters at half-time in the title-deciding MLS Cup final on Sunday, which Beckham's LA Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake on penalties, MLS chief Don Garber dismissed speculation the England midfielder might be involved in a possible Montreal franchise. However, Garber for the first time gave details of how Beckham might become an owner of a team in the league.

"We didn't talk about this until recently but David has the option for our 20th team," Garber said. "That option can't be exercised until after 2011 or after he stops playing so we have got some time to figure that out."

Montreal could become the 19th team in the league following the arrival of Philadelphia next year and Vancouver and Portland in 2011.

After Sunday's loss, Beckham said he would be taking up the option and was already looking at different cities for a team. "We've got options at this stage (but] I am not going to say what they are but it will happen eventually," he said.

Meanwhile, Beckham believes he is now ready for the challenge of trying to win a place in the AC Milan team. The England midfielder will rejoin Milan on loan next month.

His hopes of winning a league title in a third country following his successes with Manchester United and Real Madrid were ended by Real Salt Lake in a penalty shoot-out in front of 46,011 fans at Qwest Field. Now the 34-year-old will turn his attentions back to Europe and a run of games in Serie A which he hopes will win him a place in Fabio Capello's England squad for next year's World Cup finals.

Having impressed former AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti last January when he joined on loan for the first time, ostensibly to train with the club during the MLS off-season, Beckham must now make a similar impact on new coach Leonardo when he arrives in Italy on 28 December.

"It was a challenge the last time I went there," Beckham said. "People said that I would only be playing one or two games and I ended up playing every one apart from one. It's a challenge to get into any team with players like that but I'm going there to work hard and hopefully I can play some part. I want to be part of the team and enjoy it, just as I did last time."

Beckham must prove his fitness to Leonardo, with whom he has been in contact, having finished the season in the MLS with an ankle injury. He needed three pain-killing injections to play with a bruised right ankle bone on Sunday but said the problem just required rest.

"I'll have rehabilitation and just give it rest because it's been like this for a few weeks."