Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Revealed: Beckham's $25m deal for new MLS team moves one step further as he jets in to Miami for talks

David Beckham has arrived in Miami to finalise a deal to launch a Major League Soccer franchise in the Sunshine State, MailOnline can reveal.
After flying in from London yesterday, the former England football captain, 38, was seen relaxing by the pool of an exclusive hotel in South Beach.
And today, a source close to the star admitted he was going to spend the next few days meeting potential investors and trying to identify a site for a purpose-built football stadium, adding: 'We’re still in the process of analysing the deal and looking at sites and finalising investor groups.
'We're still in the planning stage, but there is a lot of excitement here.'
Dapper: David Beckham arrives in Miami on Tuesday to finalise a deal to set up his own MLS football franchise - wearing a dapper trilby
Dapper: David Beckham arrives in Miami on Tuesday to finalise a deal to set up his own MLS football franchise - wearing a dapper trilby


The source added: 'The key idea here is that we want this to last for a long, long, long time. We need our partners to be right and we need things to be right on a local, national
and global scale.'
The star was without wife Victoria or children Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, or two-year-old Harper as he arrived in Florida.
Beckham, who retired earlier this year after stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, first visited Miami to discuss the project in May - just days after retiring with one final game with Paris Saint-Germain.
The sportsman - who this week it was revealed has been put forward for a knighthood in the Queen's New Year's Honours List - has an option from his contract with LA Galaxy to own a club in the league for a set fee of $25million. MLS wants to expand from 19 to 24 clubs by 2020.
And last week, he was quoted as saying: “I am excited about owning a team . . . continuing to be part of the MLS in the future.
'Miami excites me because I think it’s a city that is very excitable. I’ve been to watch the basketball there. I’ve seen the [NFL’s Miami] Dolphins play. It’s a city where the people in the city love their sport.'
The father-of-four has been spotted with Bolivian-born billionaire Marcelo Claure, an avid football fan and part-time Miami resident, who owns one of Bolivia's top clubs, Bolivar. The two were seen together on a number of occasions on Beckham's last visits - including sharing a laugh at a Miami Heat game.
Miami has a huge, soccer-loving Latin American population and viewing figures for Champions League matches are among the highest in the US.
Warm welcome: Beckham arrived in Miami by private jet in May to explore the idea of opening an MLS franchise
Warm welcome: Beckham arrived in Miami by private jet to explore the idea of opening an MLS franchise
MLS executive vice president Dan Courtemanche said in a statement last week: “We are continuing our discussions with David Beckham regarding future ownership of an MLS expansion team.
'Our policy regarding discussions with potential expansion team owners is that we keep those conversations private until the individuals we are speaking with decide they want to go public with their plans. Thus, it is more appropriate for David Beckham to comment on his plans.'
Julio Caballero, spokesman for a fan group which has been campaigning for a team to come to the city, posted 'It's our time,' on the group's Facebook page.
Miami briefly had an MLS team, the Miami Fusion, which played in neighbouring Fort Lauderdale before folding because of low attendances in 2001. It joined MLS in 1998 but was closed by the then struggling league after four seasons.
Special treatment: Beckham attended a Miami Heat game as a guest of Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure
Special treatment: Beckham attended a Miami Heat game as a guest of Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure

As the location of Beckham's MLS team is still to be decided, the former England captain is said to also be researching other cities, although he is not allowed to open a franchise in New York under the terms of his original contract clause.
A potential venue for a Miami MLS team is the Miami Dolphins’ stadium, although it is also believed that a new stadium could be built.
Meanwhile, it is not yet known whether Beckham has received any notification of a knighthood.
He should learn whether he has been nominated for the honour by the beginning of December - but will have to keep the news strictly to himself if he is nominated and choses to accept the knighthood.
Superstar: Beckham arrives at the American Airlines Arena for the fifth game of the NBA play-offs between Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers on May 29
Superstar: Beckham arrives at the American Airlines Arena for the fifth game of the NBA play-offs between Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers
Rally: A group of supporters wait outside for Beckham to show their support for a Miami MLS franchise in May
Rally: A group of supporters wait outside for Beckham to show their support for a Miami MLS franchise

Teary-eyed: Beckham, 38, played his last ever match for PSG against Brest on May 18
Teary-eyed: Beckham, 38, played his last ever match for PSG against Brest

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