David Beckham is worried about unrealistic expectations on the eve of his arrival in MLS with the L.A. Galaxy. “People probably do think they’re going to see me turn out, and we’ll win our first game 10-0. That’s one thing I’m worried about,” he said, adding, “I’m not a player who will run past 10 players and score three or four goals. My game is about working hard and being a team player.”
Becks will be formally unveiled to the public on Friday, where he begins a five-year deal with the potential to earn some $250 million. The 32-year-old midfielder, who won the La Liga title with Real Madrid last season, admits that he could have played “three more seasons at the highest level,” but after Real decided not to renew his contract, he decided to move to MLS. “The day we won the title with a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca my heart ached — but the decision was already taken. I am going to continue to support Real Madrid and follow them next season.”
Incidentally, Beckham’s first game for the Galaxy figures to be a June 21 friendly against Chelsea, an old EPL foe when he played for Manchester United. In a recent interview, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho backed Beckham to deliver on the promise of bringing greater visibility to MLS and American soccer. “”I think it’s a pity for European football that a good player like him is gone but we all in Europe want soccer in the U.S. to go up,” he said. “It is a market that if it does then it is good for everybody and they couldn’t choose a better player for their objectives because he is more than a player.”