David Beckham appears likely to stay with the LA Galaxy in 2012, after Paris-St. Germain sporting director Leonardo declared on Tuesday that the club's chase "is finished."
Speaking with French sport newspaper L'Equipe from PSG's winter training sessions in Qatar, Leonardo — who managed AC Milan when Beckham was there on loan in 2010 — claimed that Beckham chose not to join PSG for family reasons.
"David was very interested in coming to Paris," the Brazilian said. "But the welfare of his family in Los Angeles, the wish not to change everything in his life, weighed heavily."
PSG presidnet Nasser al-Khelaifi confirmed Leonardo's comments on French radio.
"David Beckham is in Los Angeles, and he is going to stay there," he told RMC, according to the Guardian. "He will not come [to PSG], that is clear."
There was some thought that the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti as the new manager of PSG dminished the club's desire to bring in Beckham, 36. Ancelotti reportedly wanted to acquire Real Madrid midfielder Kaká, instead. But Leonardo squashed those reports.
"It was not the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti that changed everything," he said.
No official word from the Galaxy or MLS regarding a new contract for Beckham. He has been out of contract as of Jan. 1.
