Landon Donovan has used a new book to lay into LA Galaxy team-mate David Beckham. The England star has been accused of letting the club down after spending time on loan with AC Milan.
In Donovan’s new book, entitled ‘The Beckham Experiment’, he criticises the Galaxy captain’s commitment and says: “All that we care about is that he committed to us. As time has gone on, that has not been the case on the field or off the field.”
Donovan also called into question Beckham’s leadership skills. He said: “Maybe he’s not a leader, maybe he’s not a captain. Fair enough. But at a minimum, you should bust your ass every day and that hasn’t happened.
“I don’t think that’s too much for us to expect. Especially when he’s brought all this on us.”
Galaxy have endured a disappointing couple of seasons since Beckham’s arrival in 2007, with the midfielder making little impact. A return to form during his spell in Milan is sure to have been even more galling for his team-mates and Donovan thinks Beckham stopped trying when the man who signed him, Ruud Gullit, departed. He said: “Somewhere along the way – and in my mind it coincides with Ruud going – he just flipped a switch and said, ‘Uh-huh, I’m not doing it anymore’.”
The criticism could call into question Beckham’s future at the club but with 3 years remaining on his multi-million dollar deal, the 33 year old is unlikely to make any hasty decisions. The president of the United States Soccer Federation, Sunil Gulati told Bloomberg that Beckham can still make an impact. He said: “in the end he [Beckham] is a good player and a soccer icon, and I think he’ll help his team”.
There has been no comment from Beckham as yet, but he is expected to receive a frosty reaction from the Galaxy fans, when he makes his comeback on July 16th against the New York Red Bulls.
By Josh Allen
