If you head over to the Los Angeles Galaxy website, you’ll be greeted with a full page banner welcoming David Beckham back to the team! David will step on the field with the Galaxy for the first time in 2009 on July 16th, when the Galaxy takes on the New York Red Bulls.

David will be back at the Home Depot Center on July 19th when the Galaxy takes on his other team, AC Milan. That’s going to be a great game to watch! There’s still tickets available!

Image via Los Angeles Galaxy website

Two of David Beckham’s teams, the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, will be taking each other on in a special exhibition match on July 19th! In honor of this exciting match, the Galaxy is giving you a chance to win fieldside seats!

The game is taking place on July 19th at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. David will be playing for the Galaxy and it will only be his second game back with the team.

There are four different prizes in total: 4 fieldside tickets, 4 on-field passes during warm-ups, an AC Milan autographed jersey, an LA Galaxy autographed jersey, or a $100 Sports Authority gift card!

To enter, all you have to do is fill out this online form! To be eligible, you must be 18 years of age and live in California. The contest closes on Sunday, July 12th.

It should be an exciting game and I’m looking forward to watching it! The only thing that could make it better would be fieldside seats!

Image: AEG Entertainment | Los Angeles Galaxy

Everyone in the MLS is highly anticipating David Beckham’s return to the Galaxy. After extending his loan with AC Milan until the end of May, David will be back on the Los Angeles Galaxy pitch on July 16th, when the team takes on the New York Red Bulls. In the meantime, he’s plaing for his national team in two World Cup qualifying matches.

David chatted with MLS about his return. He’s been following the Galaxy’s progress closely throughout the season and is excited to return and make a contribution.

“We’ve been on a run of draws, but last year maybe those would have been losses,” he said. “There’s been times we’ve played some good football, and the guys have worked for each other. It’s not as if players are in there going through the motions … you can see the improvements.”

David thinks the biggest issue is simply a matter of confidence.

“It’s about that confidence. Once you get that win, then going on to get another win, that’s the biggest thing. I think when you go on a roll of losing games or even drawing it becomes sort of a psychological thing. You get it into your head that you’re going to draw the next game, then the next game until you get that win.”

David doesn’t think joining the team so late in the season will be an issue because of his work ethic and determination. He wants to show the players he is dedicated to the Galaxy, MLS and to playing the best football possible.

You can read the entire interview here. There’s also a video interview, which you can watch here.

Are you excited for David’s return? Worried? Still upset over his request to leave?

Image: Newscom

David Beckham is set to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 11, in time to suit up for their July 18 match against the New York Red Bull. In an effort to ease the blow of his return - he did, after all, request to stay with AC Milan - David chatted with the Los Angeles Times via phone the other day. They chatted about playing for AC Milan, the rumors that David will return to Real Madrid and what he’s looking forward to when he returns to the Galaxy.

David assures us there is no truth to the Real Madrid rumors. However, nothing has been signed for next season so David’s future remains a bit uncertain.

With his successful stint with AC Milan behind him, David is looking forward to finishing up the MLS season with the Galaxy.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been in Milan for six months, and I’ve enjoyed my time immensely. But I’ve always said, and I will always say, that I am still committed to MLS and to the Galaxy, no matter what anyone says.”

The interview is timely and interesting, but David does play it safe with his answers! You can read the complete interview here.

Image: Newscom

David Beckham won’t be rejoining the Los Angeles Galaxy until their July 18th match against New York, but the Galaxy did what they could to make amends for the fans. They reduced the ticket prices and offered up a cardboard cutout of their most popular player to be photographed with!

Image: Splash News Online

Beckham jerseys were still very popular with the crowd, as the Galaxy took on DC United. The game was an exciting one, even without David on the bench, and it ended in a 2-2 draw. The Beckham effect was evident in the stands, as the usually sold-out stadium was about 1/3 empty for this game, even with reduced ticket sales.

Image: Splash News Online

It will be interesting to see whether the Galaxy fans are as accommodating when David returns. He’s dais he’s ready to accept the consequences for his decision to stay with Milan, even if it means boos and jeers from the crowds that once came out in droves to see him.

David Beckham’s two teams will meet face to face when the Los Angeles Galaxy takes on AC Mian on Sunday, July 19th. David will play as part of the Galaxy roster.

“Over the past five years, Galaxy fans have been treated to some of the world’s best clubs coming to The Home Depot Center, including Chelsea, Rangers and Real Madrid, and we are pleased to be adding a world renowned club such as AC Milan to that list,” said Tom Payne, VP of Business Operations.

Tickets for the game are only available as a two-game pack. It’s being sold with the Galaxy’s season opener against DC United at the Home Depot Center.

I’m sure this is part of the Galaxy’s plan to keep ticket sales up during Beckham-less games. However, tickets are only $50 for both games, which is a great deal.

Tickets will go on sale today at 10am Pacific Time.

I think this crossover match is a great idea! I’d love to see David play against his current team. There’s going to be so much emotion and excitement on the field that day!

Image: Newscom

David Beckham updated his blog yesterday, writing for the first time about the AC Milan and Los Angeles Galaxy time share agreement all the parties reached. David will be staying with Milan until May 31st, after which he will return to the Galaxy to finish out their season in the MLS.

David is very excited about this deal, as it very much gives him the “best of both worlds” scenario. He has the opportunity to try to win their respective clubs’ championships in the same season and stay in match shape. David’s ultimate goal to to play for England in the 2010 World Cup and he believes this arrangement will allow him to do this.

“I’m delighted at how things have turned out and I’ll be giving my all to both Milan and the Galaxy over the coming year,” David writes.

I must say, I’m delighted too. I understand why David was so eager to stay in Milan. Soccer is simply at a higher level over there. If David wants to play in the greatest tournament, he needs to be in the best shape he can be in. However, leaving the Galaxy really seemed unfair to the MLS and to all his North American fans. Even if David does decide to opt out of his Galaxy contract in November (which he can do), everyone here has a chance to say goodbye to him.

Read the post for yourself here.

Image: Newscom

David Beckham is delighted that everything regarding a transfer to AC Milan has been resolved. The Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan reached a time share agreement that allows David to stay in Milan until May 31st. At that point, David will rejoin the Los Angeles Galaxy in time for their July 18th game against New York.

David is looking forward to trying to win each team’s respective championships this year.

“I’m really grateful to the LA Galaxy and AC Milan for making this dream deal happen,” David said in an official statement. “It allows me to play for AC Milan and the LA Galaxy in the same year, and at the same time to continue my commitment to develop soccer in the United States, which is something I am passionate about. The perfect result for 2009 would be for me to help Milan to reach the Champions League and for the LA Galaxy to make the play-offs and win the MLS Cup.”

He also assured his fans and the press that, for now, his family will remain in Los Angeles.

“My family is happy and settled and will remain in LA,” he added.

This agreement is something that the Galaxy is pleased wit as well.

“We are pleased he is returning and at the same time, we feel it is important to allow him to finish his run in Milan, as it has been a remarkable run,” Galaxy owner Tim Leiweke said.

There are no hard feelings between either team or the Galaxy and David, as this is very much a best of both world scenario for him.

“He is happy he is coming back,” the Galaxy’s head coach Bruce Arena said. “He wants to take on this challenge. If he wasn’t interested in being here, he wouldn’t have done this.”

I, for one, am very excited to see that David is staying with the Galaxy, even if it’s only for one more season. David has unfinished business here in North America and would have been very disappointing if he left on bad terms.

Image: Newscom

The saga over David Beckham’s football future continues. AC Milan is refusing to increase their offer for David and the Galaxy thinks this offer is embarrassing for someone so valuable to them as a team and to the MLS as a league.

“Two weeks ago Milan made a ridiculous offer that took me just a few seconds to reject,” Galaxy owner Tim Leiweke said. “With this figure Galaxy wouldn’t even be able to cover the loss in revenue from shirt sales. Since then I haven’t heard a thing and no meeting has been set up.”

Leiweke is increasingly frustrated with Milan’s consistently optimistic statements to the press, all which he claims are false.

“If Milan are so determined to buy him, why are they dragging this out for so long?” Leiweke told Gazzetta dello Sport. “If they think they’ll get him on the cheap that way, they’re wrong.”

However, AC Milan vie-president Adrian Galliano completely disagrees. He feels Milan’s offer is a fair and adequate offer for an eight-month release of David from his Galaxy contract. At the end of the 2009 season, David becomes a free agent and can freely leave the Galaxy and Milan is taking that into account.

“Milan have offered what we consider right for an eight-month loan, because, as confirmed by Leiweke, on 30th November David can become a free agent,” Galliani told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I don’t want to cause an argument. I thank Galaxy for having allowed us to have Beckham on loan during these recent months.”

I think Milan just needs to back off, cut their losses and make arrangements for David to come at the end of the MLS season in November. It’s clear the Galaxy is not letting go easily, and that continuing these discussions is just a waste of everyone’s time.

“We have no intention of upping our offer. I have the experience to know the price of a player. It doesn’t make sense to spend more.”

Image: Newscom

Even though the Los Angeles Galaxy is writing lines like “With the David Beckham saga behind them…”, AC Milan remains persistent in their quest for David to join their team permanently. Officials are flying to Los Angeles today and talks are expected to resume. It is now being speculated that this issue will be resolved by Friday.

However, Milan and the Galaxy still are a ways apart on where their terms lie. The two sides have a lot of ground to cover if they are going to make a deal.

”We are negotiating and trying to resolve the problem. Between our offer and their (the Galaxy’s) request there is still a margin but the will of the player is to remain. We will have to wait and see how this situation develops - there is still time.”

It is rumored David is willing to take a $1 million plus pay cut to join their team and that he may even step in financially to make the transfer happen.

I’m sick of this back and forth and this unknowing. It’s not healthy for either team, for their players, for David or for David’s family.

Image: Newscom