David Beckham Lovers

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HAWKS AT HEAT

Series: Heat leads 55-40.

Every step along the way in his quest to make Miami care about Major League Soccer, David Beckham has tried to tangentially tie LeBron James to the project.

When Beckham first floated the idea of another MLS franchise in South Florida, he did it while also making public appearances at Heat playoff games. With the Heat leading the Pacers 91-65 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, James made time during a stoppage in play to shake Beckham's hand and give Beckham's billionaire backer, Marcelo Claure, a fist pound.

The handshake was a welcoming to the city just as this latest tie between Beckham, James and the MLS is an important, albeit mostly symbolic, gesture. James confirmed Monday he is involved in an "open dialogue" with Beckham about possibly owning a share of an MLS franchise in Miami. The Daily Mail first reported the story.

"There is some interest on both sides," said James, who already owns a small share of Liverpool FC. "David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club. There is interest on both sides, but it's preliminary talks."

For Beckham, having one of the most recognizable athletes in the world on board to market the MLS to Miami is just another important step in a very difficult and complicated process of making sure the product thrives in South Florida. James was wise to call it a "football club," because the verdict is still out on whether or not Miami will support "soccer."

So far, James likes what Beckham is selling, but he isn't completely sold on the idea. Asked what he thought of the potential for MLS in Miami, James said, "We don't know."

"The research is still being made out, but I think it could be huge," James said. "But, you never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There's a great youth [system] of soccer here. And people love the city as well, so that definitely will help."

If anyone can bridge the divide between Miami's love of international soccer and the city's tepidity for the sport's domestic variant, it's Beckham, who first created a buzz for Major League Soccer when he signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. Beckham's deal with MLS, which owns all players' contracts, gave him the option to start a franchise at a discounted rate upon his retirement. Beckham retired this summer and almost immediately began laying the groundwork for an MLS club in Miami.

But plenty of work remains before MLS awards Beckham and Miami with an expansion franchise, including the most important aspect of the bid. Securing a permanent home for a potential team in an attractive part of town could make or break the deal.

James, now apparently an insider to Beckham's plans, indicated nothing is certain at this point. Asked if he felt like Miami is definitely going to land a team, he said, "We don't know. I don't know."

"It's like buying a house," James said. "You don't know until you sign the papers."

KNEE CONCERNS

Dwyane Wade said Monday he didn't plan on playing in Saturday's game against Charlotte but was called into emergency service when the NBA suspended Mario Chalmers. Wade went 1 of 7 from the field, scored four points and went to the locker room in the third quarter.

LeBron James confirmed he's interested in helping David Beckham bring an MLS team to South Florida, but nothing is official.

Ever since LeBron James called out his team for its poor play, James has scored at least 30 points in every game while shooting 70.2 percent from the field, 62.5 percent from three-point range and 81 percent from the free-throw line.

The Heat rested its Big Three and Shane Battier in the fourth quarter as Miami's defense tamed Bobcats in Charlotte.

Liverpool fan LeBron James may invest in Major League Soccer. Photo: Mike Ehrmann

MIAMI: NBA superstar LeBron James confirmed Monday that he is in talks with England football icon David Beckham about investing in a possible Major League Soccer expansion club for Miami.

James, who has led the Miami Heat to the past two NBA titles, told the Miami Herald that he has spoken with Beckham about the project. James owns a small share of English Premier League side Liverpool.

"There is some interest on both sides," James said. "David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club. There is interest on both sides, but it's preliminary talks but there is some open dialogue."

David Beckham is looking to start a new team in Miami. Photo: AFP

Beckham, who recently retired as a player, has been exploring the possibility of owning an MLS club. The chance to grab a team for a discounted rate was reportedly part of the contract that lured the former Manchester United star midfielder to the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 from Real Madrid.

But time to make a deal for a team is said to be running out, possibly by the end of the year.

The MLS had a Miami team, the Fusion, from 1998 through 2001 before it folded and James said the level of support from the Miami market is still being explored.

"We don't know (the potential)," James said. "The research is still being made out but I think it could be huge. You never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There is a great youth (organisation) of soccer here. And people love the city as well, so that definitely will help."

Beckham has become a familiar face at Heat games and James has enjoyed a growing interest in football, even hyping his connections to the sport via video games in an advertisement, since his role in Fenway Sports Group gave him a piece of Liverpool.

"I have grown a great interest in watching the game and learning it and it is a pretty intense sport," James said. "And my kids love it as well. But I have grown to the point where I know exactly what's going on when I'm watching the game."

James has spent time touring Liverpool facilities and meeting players.

Stephen Ross, owner of the NFL Miami Dolphins, has reportedly shown interest in partnering with Beckham as well.

A crowd of 71,124 -- the largest ever for a football match in Florida -- attended a Brazil 5-0 friendly win over Honduras last Saturday.

But James says Miami actually obtaining an MLS club is far from a done deal despite the superstar leverage behind the project.

"We don't know," James said. "It's like buying a house. You don't know until you sign the papers."

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Flamini, 29, spent five years in Italy after leaving the Gunners in 2008.

There he played with stars including Ronaldinho and David Beckham - and AC lifted the Serie A title in 2011.

Now the France midfielder wants to do the same with Arsenal.

"I had the opportunity to go over there and play with legends," Flamini told arsenal.com.

"I played with Maldini, with Kaka, with Ronaldinho and even David Beckham over there.

"I had the chance to learn a lot. The mentality and the approach to football over there is completely different. The game is completely different too.

"Tactically, you have to be very strong. You have to learn a lot, you have to know exactly how to move on the pitch.

"I won a Scudetto and I had some really positive years over there."

"I didn't think twice when I had the chance to come back"

Flamini re-signed for Arsenal on a free over the summer but there were no shortage of suitors looking to snap him up.

He added: "I had the possibility of other clubs in Italy, in England, in Germany even.

"But for me it was the chance to come back to Arsenal, with the team we have right now, to work with Arsène Wenger again.

"It was basically him who introduced me to the top level. He brought me into the Premier League and into the Champions League, so I didn't think twice when I had the chance to come back

"I just said: 'Let's do it.' Now I'm here and happy, and looking forward to having an amazing season."

Basketball star LeBron James has confirmed he has held talks with David Beckham about bringing a soccer team to Miami.

James confirmed he could partner with the former England captain, who has the option to buy an MLS franchise for $25m and has targeted Miami as the location.

The four-time NBA MVP confirmed rumours that talks had taken place after a practice session in Florida.

He said: "There's some interest on both sides. David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure.

"The research is still being made out, but I think it can be huge, but you never know.

"I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There is a lot of great youth soccer here.

"I have grown a great interest in watching the game and learning the guys.

"It's a pretty intense sport, and my kids love it as well. But I've grown to the point where I know exactly what's going on when I'm watching the game."

Sky News reported in October that Beckham, 38, had chosen Miami as his preferred location for the MLS team he hopes to own.

Beckham played his last professional game for Paris Saint-Germain in May

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder had a clause inserted into his first Los Angeles Galaxy contract in 2007, giving him the right to start an expansion franchise for a set price.

Beckham - who called time on his playing career this year - scouted Miami locations for at least the second time last week and is looking for investors.

The overall start-up costs would far exceed the $25m price when costs such as stadium construction and player recruitment are taken into account.

James, 28, already owns a stake in five-time European Cup winners Liverpool FC as part of a management deal signed with the club's parent company Fenway Sports Group in 2011.

Beckham created a buzz last season when he sat courtside for some Heat games, and was pictured shaking hands with James.

The MLS currently consists of 19 teams, but expansion plans hope to increase that number to 24 by 2020.

South Florida has had an MLS team in the past - the Miami Fusion, who played in Fort Lauderdale, from 1998.

But the team was shut down because of poor attendance in 2001.

James confirmed the talks had taken place after Miami Heat practice on Monday.

He said: "There's some interest on both sides.

"David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. And I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure.

"So there's interest on both sides, but it's preliminary talks. There (is) some open dialogue."

Reports emerged last month that Beckham, the former England captain, had decided to start an MLS expansion club in Miami. Several matters, however, must first be taken care of, including league approval.

Beckham travelled to Miami last week for at least the second time to scout possible locations and is looking for financial backers.

As part of the deal that brought Beckham to America with the Galaxy, the 38-year-old has the right to pay $25 million to start an expansion franchise.

However the overall costs associated with launching the team are will far exceed that amount when factoring in things like stadium construction and player signings.

"The research is still being made out," James said. "I think it could be huge. But you never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There's a lot of soccer players, there's great youth soccer players here and people love the city as well. So that definitely would help."

Beckham is hoping that he can draw upon the star power and commercial reach of someone like James will aid his bid to get a franchise off the ground, and the pair appear to hold a genuine interest in working together.

Beckham created a buzz last season when he sat courtside for some Heat games, and James often speaks about his growing appreciation for some of the football's best players.

"I've grown a great interest in watching the game," James said. "It's a pretty intense sport. And my kids love it as well. But I've grown to the point where I know exactly what's going on when I'm watching the game."

Forward James, who been an important part in Miami Heat's back-to-back NBA Championships, has developed an interest in football since becoming a minority owner in Liverpool.

"There's some interest on both sides," James said in comments reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure. There's interest on both sides but it's preliminary talks."

Beckham, who spent five and a half years with Los Angeles Galaxy, now has the option of buying an MLS franchise at a discounted price due to a clause in his past contract.

"I think it could be huge. You never know. I think this is a great town for soccer."

And the Manchester United icon confirmed last month that his chosen destination is Miami, despite the fact that the former footballing side Miami Fusion folded after its short existence from 1998 to 2001.

"The research is still being made out," James added. "I think it could be huge. You never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There's a lot of soccer players, there's great youth soccer players here and people love the city as well. That definitely would help."

James, 28, partnered with Fenway Sports Group in 2011 in a global marketing deal to invest in Liverpool, and even though his NBA commitments keep him away from Anfield, he has still kept a vested interest in the club.

"I've grown a great interest in watching the game and learning the guys," he said. "It's a pretty intense sport. My kids love it as well. I've grown to the point where I know exactly what's going on when I'm watching the game."

PUBLISHED: 17:15 EST, 18 November 2013 | UPDATED: 17:15 EST, 18 November 2013

NBA superstar LeBron James has confirmed talking to David Beckham about potentially investing in his bid to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami.

Forward James, who has led the Miami Heat to back-to-back NBA Championships, is a minority owner in Liverpool and said he had developed an interest in the game.

'There's some interest on both sides,' James said in comments reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel following Heat practice on Monday.

'David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years.

'I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure. There's interest on both sides but it's preliminary talks.'

Beckham spent five and a half years with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and his contract gave him the option of buying an MLS franchise at a discounted price after retirement.

The former England captain confirmed last month that Miami was his preferred destination.

The city was home to the Miami Fusion from 1998 to 2001 and while that team folded, the belief is that the time is now right for the sport to return.

'The research is still being made out,' James added.

'I think it could be huge. You never know. I think this is a great town for soccer.

There's a lot of soccer players, there's great youth soccer players here and people love the city as well. That definitely would help.'

James, 28, invested in Liverpool in 2011 after partnering with the Anfield club's owners, the Fenway Sports Group, in a global marketing deal and while the NBA's schedule keeps him away from Anfield, he has been watching from afar.

'I've grown a great interest in watching the game and learning the guys," he said.

'It's a pretty intense sport. My kids love it as well. I've grown to the point where I know exactly what's going on when I'm watching the game.'