Beckham ready for LA hostility
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David Beckham knows he will get jeered by LA Galaxy fans when he returns to the club this summer.
The England midfielder has agreed a controversial 'timeshare' deal to play for AC Milan until the end of the season before returning to Los Angeles to play for the Galaxy between July and October.
England manager Fabio Capello suggested the move and Beckham knows it gives him his best chance of making it into the 2010 World Cup squad.
However, former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, the man who signed Beckham for the club, has stated that the fans will not react kindly to the player when he is scheduled to return in July.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Lalas said, "He'll get booed and it's of his own making.
"I don't begrudge him the opportunity to play in a World Cup and if he feels this is the most direct path to get to it, fine, I know what it means to represent your country.
"But as long as he understands there are ramifications to these decisions.
"What it comes down to is that the Galaxy fans don't care if David Beckham plays for them or not. All they want is a winning team, that's what they're used to.
"So he'll take some of the heat when he does come back, some of it deserved, some of it probably not. But this is sport and I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it."
Galaxy fans have already voiced their anger at Beckham's decision to remain in Italy.
Supporters donned masks and t-shirts with the words 'Let Beckham Go' scrawled on the front during the MLS side's friendly game against Japan’s Oita Trinita last month.
"I'm sure there will be a certain amount of criticism because people won't understand why I want to stay here but we will have to see," Beckham told Sky Sports News.
"Real football people will say, 'He's passionate about playing for his country and knows what he needs to do to have the chance of playing in the World Cup'."
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The England midfielder has agreed a controversial 'timeshare' deal to play for AC Milan until the end of the season before returning to Los Angeles to play for the Galaxy between July and October.
England manager Fabio Capello suggested the move and Beckham knows it gives him his best chance of making it into the 2010 World Cup squad.
However, former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, the man who signed Beckham for the club, has stated that the fans will not react kindly to the player when he is scheduled to return in July.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Lalas said, "He'll get booed and it's of his own making.
"I don't begrudge him the opportunity to play in a World Cup and if he feels this is the most direct path to get to it, fine, I know what it means to represent your country.
"But as long as he understands there are ramifications to these decisions.
"What it comes down to is that the Galaxy fans don't care if David Beckham plays for them or not. All they want is a winning team, that's what they're used to.
"So he'll take some of the heat when he does come back, some of it deserved, some of it probably not. But this is sport and I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it."
Galaxy fans have already voiced their anger at Beckham's decision to remain in Italy.
Supporters donned masks and t-shirts with the words 'Let Beckham Go' scrawled on the front during the MLS side's friendly game against Japan’s Oita Trinita last month.
"I'm sure there will be a certain amount of criticism because people won't understand why I want to stay here but we will have to see," Beckham told Sky Sports News.
"Real football people will say, 'He's passionate about playing for his country and knows what he needs to do to have the chance of playing in the World Cup'."
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Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
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