Spindoc you are wrong on this one. European soccer players contracts are guarenteed. It's why clubs like Leeds United and Fiorentina almost folded. They weren't making anything because they weren't successful on the field but they owed tens of millions to players off the field. Leeds (rivals of Beckham's old team Manchester Utd.) even had to sell their stadium to pay the wages owed to many players who no longer even played for them at that stage. They literally owed about $250 million+
As for Beckham he may get paid a lot but he brings so much money and media attention to a team that it pays back in spades. He has never been the highest earning player in the world (in salary terms) but makes his money from his endorsments etc. Before LA, Real Madrid paid him the market value for a world class player in his position but that probably made up less than 1/2 his income. At Manchester United I bet his first contract was for a few hundred a week. Now guys are making millions as teenagers. He has never been greedy and only moved clubs in his career when it was time to move on. Also, soccer in Europe isn't the NFL, MLB, NBA etc. There is no money sharing a no wage limits. Clubs are paying kids ludicrous amounts of money and it is risking there future as many are always on the verge of bankruptcy.
As for Beckham he may get paid a lot but he brings so much money and media attention to a team that it pays back in spades. He has never been the highest earning player in the world (in salary terms) but makes his money from his endorsments etc. Before LA, Real Madrid paid him the market value for a world class player in his position but that probably made up less than 1/2 his income. At Manchester United I bet his first contract was for a few hundred a week. Now guys are making millions as teenagers. He has never been greedy and only moved clubs in his career when it was time to move on. Also, soccer in Europe isn't the NFL, MLB, NBA etc. There is no money sharing a no wage limits. Clubs are paying kids ludicrous amounts of money and it is risking there future as many are always on the verge of bankruptcy.