I've said it once and I'll say it again. I don't believe Zidane would be a big draw in the US. Not in NY, not in Chicago. However, I think he would be a big draw in Toronto. But, with Toronto already doing phenomenally with ticket sales, I'd rather not bring in an over-the-hill player - even one of the best ever, in Zidane. Having retired, I don't believe Zidane would come to this country with any real ambition for competition or getting hacked. He might do a few flashy things, but overall I predict he is a salary bust.
The key to ZZ maybe going to LA is not what the league wants or what is best or Landon Donovan or anything. The key is what ZZ wants, and that's why the Galaxy may be in play. That multiple MLS teams have pursued Zidane is about the worst kept secret in the world, and they've come up empty. If playing with Beckham in sunny California is enough to change his mind, then the Galaxy might get him.
the only thing the article gives as possible fact is a remark made by zidane, "I again have a desire to play." then the article states, "Probably soon like "Becks" in Hollywood." I guess we already all know this, but it's tabloid stuff. welcome to the make a wish foundations...........I wish for a big bowl of cruchberries....
Not me He's not worth the money since he's away about 1/3+ in the season no thank you. Plus I think he's not that great of a player.
8 figures for one year is insane at a minimalist level. If it were for more than one year, Donovan woud be snatched up for 900k a year or more. There will be unfilled DP slots in the league, another team would pick him up. The trouble is convincing Landon that he wants to play somewhere other than SoCal (by the way, Earthquakes could be back in '08). The Zidane to LA deal won't happen. If it does, I have my tickets for LA coming to town already. I would have to bring an extra pair of shorts though after going through all MLS seasons without hugungous stars and then seeing Becks, Zidane, and Donovan on the same pitch. There will be no holding of the breath here for this deal.
Let's set this straight. This article in Bild is a pipe dream. First off, Bild is a rag only slightly better than the National Inquirer. Also, the whole article is speculative and talks about what Zidane "should do" as opposed to what he "will do." It states that Zizou SHOULD join Beckham in LA and that following his World's Best 11 that he played in recently, that he still has a desire to play. The article then states in its final sentence, "Wahrscheinlich bald wie „Becks“ in Hollywood." Loosely translated, "Probably soon like Becks in Hollywood." Beckham has already put butts in the seats for LA, so the deminishing rate of return on an investment like Zizou is not in LA's favor, IMO. Teams like NYRB would not only be more likely to purchase Zizou for the kind of money that he is asking for because they have deep pockets and the extra DP slot, but for God's sake, they just signed Cletus, so you know they're desperate for some striking capabilities.
Just for the record, I think the Houston Dynamo would not be upset to bench Dalglish if they could throw Donovan next to Ching at withdrawn forward: _____Chinger________ __________LD_______ Davis___DeRo_____Mulls _______Clark_________ Yeah, I think we could work a deal there. And the idea of placing LD on waivers? Talk about pulling an Ellinger.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=78693 After reading this article I kind of understand the idea as plausible if Adidas gets involved and the fact that it origonated out of Germany gives it some credibility. Will it happen, I still think its slim, but it now makes a bit more sense as to why. LA is going to be marketed as a global brand and Adidas has that to gain as a bandwagon sponsor with the LA Galaxy. This could be interesting.
Is it in MLS's interest to have a huge monopoly team and then later once the name is established work on getting DP's to the rest of the league? I doubt it, but does it seem likely that the league would try that at all?
Damn the Tampa Bay Mutiny had better attendance then at least half the teams in the MLS and they dumped the team... 1996: 11,679 1997: 11,338 1998: 10,312 1999: 13,106 2000: 9,452 2001: 14,479
Rumor or not, it is spreading all over europe Italy - http://www.gazzetta.it/Rubriche/CalcioEstero/Primo_Piano/2007/03_Marzo/31/zidanegalaxy.shtml A brief translation: According to the german newspaper, conversations are under way between Zizou and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Annual and worth of a king contract. "I want to play" - Fundamental in this operation would be Adidas, already responsable for the arrival of Beckham to California. Zidane, at the end of a week in Paris for a beneficiary tornament, has revealed: "I have again will to play"
There is no way that Zidane is coming to LA, as much as I would love it. The Galaxy would not get rid of Donovan as he is a HOMETOWN (Redlands) star that will be there for the future, while Zidane is a quick fix. AEG defnitely has the money, but like others have stated it just doesn't make sense for them. Zidane was originally asking for so much in part b/c it was reported that Beckham was making about 50 mill a year, when it's really closer to 5. However, I still don't see Zidane coming to the MLS.
I think something may have been lost in translation. Don't forget there are 2 teams playing in Los Angeles and the other one also has an owner with deep pockets. I don't think Cue or whatever his name is likes playing second fiddle to the Gals. Saying that, I won't be suprised if Zidane goes to Chicago especially if AEG likes all the hype surrouding Becks to LA.
Why?!!! Why should LA care about who the other clubs in the league are willing to sign? If they want to put up the money to pay for the player, then they should be able to sign the guy if he wants to be there. The league is only going to give them 400k towards the cost of a DP slot, they rest is coming from us; the fans. Would I want him to go to DC? No! Would I want him to go to Chicago? No! I want to see him play for the colors that I support. I don't care that DC is making the best moves out of all of MLS this of season. I don't think they should be able to sign 2 Brazilians that are likely to be on the way up. They should have to send one of them to RSL or Colorado. It just isn't fair!
I dont know why Donovan is even an issue in this. For one, I think Zidane is and has been interested in the MLS. If, and thats a big if, he goes to LA it will not effect Donovan until the next year. At that time there might be an exception or a trade. I still feel it is likely that Zidane will come to the MLS but it is more likely to be at another club. I've had my ears open to some talks and the rumors are stiring again about Zidane in the MLS. Without saying names its a team in Texas that is actually in talks. I used to work for the Dallas Burn, now the Dallas FC and have heard a couple interesting scenarios. Its just gossip as is all of this crap but I will def. post something in detail if I hear anything solid.
The could always get a second DP spot sign Zidane to a one-year deal and at the end of the year decide if they want Zidane for another season or Donovan for another 10.
Let Landycakes try another Europe run after this season. If Zidane makes his way to LA, then you have to hand it to Lalas putting together the superclub. Best case scenario: Zidane joins Freddy Adu at Real Salt Lake and gives the youngster a few lessons on how to play the game. Worst case scenario: Zidane joins Blanco with the Chicago Fire and I would end up with my favorite and least favorite player on the same team.
OK, since nobody has translated the article, I'll do this for you all: "It would be the Mega-Surprise of the year! According to BILD Sources, Zinedine Zidane (34), the most well-known ex-football player in the world, is not only about to make a comeback. Rather, he'll do so by playing again with his former teammate from Real Madrid, David Beckham (will transfer in the Summer to the USA), on the same team. A Sensation! Exactly as the English Superstar, "Zizou" will don the Trikot (kit) of the Los Angeles Galaxy (a team in the american Professional League MLS) beginning in July. For the World Football Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003, a one-year contract in the range of the double digit million dollars is under discussion. This Sensations-Transfer would be made possible by Adidas. The sporting gear distributor from Herzogenaurach (my personal note: Adidas' corporate headquarters are in this little German town) was already very instrumental in the Beckham transfer. And now they might land another marketing Coup. Last Sunday, the Frenchman played an Indoor Soccer Game with some other players from the 1998 World Cup Champions Squad (i.e. Desailly, Lizarazu). Zidane looked fit and in good spirits. And he confessed: "I have a desire to play again." Perhaps soon like "Becks" in Hollywood." That's it folks! On an aside, some of the German phrases that I translated would make no sense under a literal translation, so I've tryed my best to translate accordingly. It looks like Adidas would pay Zizou for his image rights and such (i.e. the double digit millions), while MLS would give him a working wage that would be much smaller (as with Beckham). One point that this article fails to realize is that the LA Galaxy would need a 2nd DP slot for Zizou. Oh, also, the BILD Magazin is not very reputable at all...sort of like German National Enquirer for Soccer. OK, Enjoy!
Don't get our hopes up with Zidane to Chivas USA because they have dealt away their DP slot for Guevara. Zidane is not coming here. He already rejected contracts upwards of 15 mil per year. Nobody is going to fork over that much for him and he just really doesn't want to come to MLS. I wish this rumour would die already.
The point is that they NEED a second DP spot for Donovan next year anyway. With Donovan gradfathered this year they could/should sign Zidane for one year only and have all three players this year.
The phrasing "soll" doesn't mean "should", it means "reportedly". "Sollte" means "should". In the first sentence they claimed to have insider information, which may or may not be bs. Thereafter they are using the formulation "soll" to refer to their insider info.
Correct me if I'm wrong (it wouldn't be the first time), but is that even an issue? They don't need a DP for Donovan this season, because he is grandfathered in, correct? They would need a DP for him next season, by which time Zidane would be retired again. Therefore, this is not about choosing between Zidane and Donovan (unless they'd have to trade Donovan in return for the DP slot they'd need for Zidane).