MADRID, Spain - Frozen out by his coach at Real Madrid, David Beckham could join the Los Angeles Galaxy this spring rather than complete the remaining six months of his contract with the Spanish club.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber told the Spanish daily Marca that Beckham's lawyers are working to arrange an early release from Madrid as the Galaxy can't afford to buy out the remainder of the 31-year-old English midfielder's contract.
Garber said the Galaxy wants to bring in Beckham as early as possible, and the player is ready to do so. The MLS season starts in April.
"We have to wait and see what the details of his Real Madrid contract are, and if he can get out of it,'' Galaxy coach Frank Yallop was quoted in British newspapers. "Under normal circumstances he would join us in August, but we will see if he can come sooner.''
Beckham's spokesman said Monday the player still intends to fulfil the rest of his Madrid contract.
"Until the club sits down with him to address the situation, David will continue to train with Real Madrid until the end of the season with his usual professionalism,'' spokesman Simon Oliveira told The Associated Press.
Beckham announced last week that he would move to the Galaxy in August after his contract with Madrid expires in June. The five-year U.S. deal is reportedly worth US$250 million in salary and commercial endorsements.
Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello said Saturday that Beckham would no longer play in matches for the team now that he has committed to another club, and would only be able to train with his teammates. That leaves Beckham with the prospect of no competitive soccer for six months.
On Sunday, Capello criticized Beckham for signing with the Galaxy before informing the Madrid club.
"He signed his contract before he spoke with Madrid and for me that doesn't seem right,'' Capello said after Madrid's 1-0 win over Real Zaragoza, a match Beckham watched from a spectator box along with mother, Sandra, at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
"If a player has a contract (with another club) it isn't right that you continue to treat him as just another player.''
Oliveira said Beckham had made his intentions clear to club officials in a meeting prior to signing with the MLS club.
"We've done everything above board,'' Oliveira said. "We made our intentions clear to Real Madrid that David wasn't staying at the club before meeting with the Galaxy.''
Beckham joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2003. The team hasn't won a major trophy since then, and the former England captain was mainly relegated to the bench this season.
