Tim Leiweke, president of LA Galaxy owner AEG, says he has never been as confident as the media were about David Beckham’s impending move to Paris-St. Germain.
And now Leiweke is feeling confident that the Galaxy will get a deal done with Beckham; however, nothing is in ink yet.
"We have been talking with David about staying with the Galaxy for three months,” Leiweke told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday afternoon, “and I said back in November, I was confident David would stay here and I still am. Does it look more likely that is heading in that direction? Yes. Are we done? No."
The Galaxy’s optimism stems from the news that emerged on Tuesday that Beckham would not be signing with PSG.
“It is finished,” the French team’s sporting director, Leonardo, told L’Equipe, about the club’s attempts to sign Beckham to an 18-month contract that would’ve paid him roughly $1 million per month. Leonardo cited family reasons for Beckham’s decision not to join PSG.
Once Leonardo’s words hit the internet, the speculation began that he would stay with the Galaxy. However, Leiweke admitted that PSG are not the only suitors for Beckham’s signature.
"It’s not just Paris," Leiweke said. "He’s had other offers. And every one is greater and more expansive, bigger than anything we’re talking about.”
Yahoo.com reported on Tuesday that the Galaxy had offered Beckham a one-year, $6.5 million contract that included provisions that would release him for the Olympics next summer.
But the size of the contract offer is not the only issue the Galaxy are contending with.
“We have the added complication that David has the right to purchase a franchise in this league,” Leiweke told the Times. “There are a lot of issues we are going through. We are committed to David and he has always felt strongly about the Galaxy in LA, and it does not surprise me that his family would prefer to stay in LA. But we’re not done yet."
It was this last point that Leiweke stressed: Even though Beckham not joining PSG is a good omen for the club, there is still a lot of ground to cover before either side puts pen to paper.
"We’re down the road," Leiweke said. "I am confident we’ll get it done. We have work to do but we’re not there yet. And as much as I didn’t get too low when they were planning the parade down the Champs-Elysees … now as much as the media is reporting that we’re done, I’ve been on the phone with his people all day. Trust me, we’re not done."
