Following a report that said he was interested in joining the A-League in Australia, superstar David Beckham denied those claims on Friday through his management company.
The Associated Press and The Australian had reported that Beckham was interested in joining the A-League after Football Federation Australia released a statement "confirming the interest from Beckham."
According to the Associated Press, an FFA spokesman said that talks were in the "preliminary stage ... (but) the approach from David Beckham's people is another sign of how much the A-League has grown in stature on a global basis.''
Following the reports, Beckham's management company came out and said that talks had not started and that the reports were false. Beckham has spent the past five seasons in the United States with the Los Angeles Galaxy after signing a new two-year deal in January.
FFA chief executive David Gallop said the talks would bring Beckham to Australia on a "short-term basis." The Australian reported that the deal would be for a "10-match guest player basis" rather than a permanent move.
"I spoke to the player's agent today and said to him it would be fantastic," Gallop told Australian broadcaster Fox Sports. "There would be some hoops to jump through. Clubs need to come forward and be the first point of contact."
Beckham would not be the only star in the A-League if he decided to join a team. Both Juventus forward and England striker Emile Heskey have signed contracts to play this season on A-League teams.
"Discussions are at an early stage and FFA is exploring the options available," an FFA spokesman said last night. "Beckham is a superstar on the world stage and he would be another massive signing but this approach remains at a very preliminary stage."
Beckham's management shot down the claims on Friday.
"There is always enormous interest from clubs across the world in signing David as a player," Beckham's management company said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "There are absolutely no plans to play in Australia. David is completely focused on the MLS playoffs and winning another championship with the Galaxy."
If Beckham did move to the A-League, it would not be the first time he has left the Galaxy to play for another club. In 2009 he played with Inter Milan on a loan and in 2010 he did the same. Those weren't permanent moves and the reports claim the Australian move would be for a similar period of time.
"I think you'll find he is seriously looking at both options," said Fox Sports analyst Mark Bosnich to the Weekend Australian. "The guest stint would be the starter, then a more permanent move. I can assure you that is 100 per cent what he is looking at."
Bosnich won a World Club championship and a title with Beckham while with Manchester United.
The FFA on Thursday said it was approached by an agent representing Beckham in regards to playing "some matches with an A-League team this season," according to the Associated Press.
According to ESPN.com, both the Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory have said they are interested in signing Beckham if he was interested in the A-League.
Beckham won a championship with the Galaxy last season and is currently in the Western conference finals of the 2012 MLS playoffs. The team is looking for its second straight championship.
This season Beckham has scored seven goals and added five assists while playing in 27 matches with the Galaxy.
