Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has said that David Beckham has an option to own his own MLS team.
Garber played down speculation that Beckham could be involved in a possible Montreal franchise but confirmed that discussions had taken place about the former England captain owning the league’s 20th team in the future.
“We didn’t talk about this until recently but David has the option for our 20th team,” Garber said at the MLS Cup Final at the weekend.
“That option can’t be exercised until after 2011 or after he stops playing so we have got some time to figure that out.”
Montreal could become the 19th team in the league following the arrival of Philadelphia next year and Vancouver and Portland in 2011.
Beckham confirmed after the game, which his LA Galaxy team lost on penalties to Real Salt Lake, that he would be taking up the option at some stage.
“We’ve got options,” he added. “Obviously at this stage I am not going to say what they are but it will happen eventually.”
Beckham’s current deal with the Galaxy runs out at the end of the 2011 season.
