Real shame, but I suppose it's not too terribly surprising, particularly since the thought of one of the all-time greats playing in the MLS just months removed from the brilliant form he flashed in Germany was a little too good to be true.

Thanks for the updates -- great blog!

Yeah this really sucks froma leaguewide point of view, but I'm very interested in this story you've got for us tonight...? Bradley being named Head coach? Front page, it's gotta be significant. I'm excited

What I liked best about this is how it would make MLS-bashers' heads explode. "What? Zidane would play for MLS but not for one of our great European teams?" Egos would be hurt and Zidane would be badmouthed...

Shame we won't see it happen...

This sucks. One would think the a contract and endorsement incentives could reach over 15 million (the same as the endorsmentts bringing beckahm's from &10 million to $50 million. If I remember, Zizou is another Adidas guy like Beckham too. (BTW, anyone know what he got piad in Madrid?)

boat-loads. commanded the highest fee in history at the time of his signing circa 2001, if i'm not mistaken. wikipedia surely has the answer...

zidane isn't worth 15 million...

Zidane's clearly worth $15 million, just not in the USA. It may not be right, but Zidane isn't going to put butts in the seats like Beckham will. Zidane may bring out more of the hard-cores, but that's hardly going to fill Arrowhead like the teeny-boppers will when Becks comes to town. Zidane may clearly be the better player but that doesn't make him the best investment.

Sucks for the league, but thank god Zidane won't be bearing down on United's defense next season.

Zidane only made 8 million a year for Real Madrid. Though he did bring in an additional 10 million a year from endorsements. Not sure why he thinks he deserves double that to play in the States. I say he should get 12mil max, plus huge endorsements.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/06/worldcup_players/source/6.htm

I know what's being reported here, but is that a beginning figure for a bargain being played out in the media, or is that really the hurdle to be overcome?

No chance that the story is Philly joining the league is there?

Coach Bradley?

If they signed him for two years, that's $30 million. I think that's worth it.

$15M for him is way too much. Unlike Beckham, there is no way in world MLs or AEG would recoup enough of that money to make it worthwhile. As great a player as Zidane is he isn't the marketing force that Beckham is. Too much money. $5-8M and I would say yes, but not $15M.

$15M for him is way too much. Unlike Beckham, there is no way in world MLs or AEG would recoup enough of that money to make it worthwhile. As great a player as Zidane is he isn't the marketing force that Beckham is. Too much money. $5-8M and I would say yes, but not $15M.

I am amazed that you all think that Becks is worth so much more than Zizou. Zizou is one of the greatest players to ever play football, but yet you all think he's not worth the money. Becks is overrated but he's worth all that ridiculous amount of money, it doesnt surprise me that the MLS will never be taken seriously!

Magician, you haven't been reading why people think becks is a better investment than Zidane. Almost everyone who posts here agrees that Zidane is a better player than becks but that is not the point. The point is to bring in players who will be best for the league as it is now, and what the league needs most now is more interest at home as shown through increased attendance and viewership on television. Not enough people would be drawn to watch Zizou to justify 15m, maybe, whereas it is likely that enough will be drawn to watch becks to cover his salary...heck, if two kids in each elementary school in japan buy a becks galaxy jersey, he will be paid for.