**DAVID BECKHAM TO JOIN LA GALAXY!!**
13th Apr 2007It has been announced that football star David Beckham will leave Real Madrid, his home for 4 seasons. He will join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy at the end of the current season.
The five year deal with LA Galaxy is worth a reported £128m.
David Beckham told reporters "This week Real asked me to make a decision regarding their offer to extend my contract.
"After considering several options to stay in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy."
"I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make. I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football. I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans. I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own. For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100% to my coach, team-mates and fans as I believe manager Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve.
A statement form Real Madrid confirmed the move "Both parties have agreed that Beckham will not extend his current contract, which ends on 30 June 2007."
In July 2005, Beckham depoarted Manchester United for Spain for a reported £25m. Despite the move, the Spanish team have failed to win any major trophies.
Recently Beckham was dropped by England coach Steve McClaren and then, in scenes similar to his turbulant realtionship with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, fell out with Real Madrid boss Capello.
Will David Beckham return to the UK? It is though that the football star David Beckham will quit Europe altogether and head for the sunny shores of LA when his contract with Real Madrid ends this year. His wife Victoria is said to be keen to move to LA where she is rumoured to have landed a part in Tom Cruise's latest flick, about Scientology. Beckhams sponsorship deals wih top names are ending as his profile over here declines. He has been advised that a move to the US or Asia where the Bekhams are huge stars would ensure they maintain their healthy bank balance.
Alexei Smertin in move to Fulham?
Reports suggest that the former Russain captain, Alexei Smertin has been offered a deal by Fulham Football Club.
Smertin, who has previously played for Chelsea, Charlton and Portsmouth returned to Russia to play for Dinamo Moscow. However their relationship ended last week and the star could be heading back to the UK premiership.
Russian media has been speculating that the midfielder will be returning to Charlton or West Ham (where his former boss Alan Curbishley now manages). However his agent, Paulo Barboza fuelled rumours that a move to Fulham was also on the cards.
