Stefan Lovgren

David Beckham's decision to leave Real Madrid for the LA Galaxy has been greeted with derision among Europe's soccerati.

His move from one of the world's biggest clubs to the relative backwaters of soccer -- that would be the United States -- is seen by some people as a virtual admission that his serious career is over.

They're wrong. This is a deal that makes a lot of sense for Beckham.

Increasingly moved to the periphery on the European stage, the former England captain now has a golden opportunity to make a real impact on soccer -- indeed spearhead its slowly but surely rising popularity -- in the United States.

Money inevitably played a part in his decision; Beckham's five-year contract is reportedly worth a staggering $250 million.

But this includes his sponsorship contracts, merchandising shirt sales, and even a share of LA Galaxy club profits. His actual salary is reportedly $10 million a year, less than the $11.3 million he's currently making at Real Madrid.

So why the move?

For one, his game may be particularly suited to the slower pace of the MLS.

Beckham has never been the fastest player on the pitch. With the LA Galaxy, he'll be able to move into the center of midfield, where he can control the game and spread balls around rather than trying to beat defenders down the flank.

He's arguably still the best free-kick taker in the world, and is sure to produce the kind of highlight moments that play well to an American sporting audience.

It was always a given that Beckham would play in the MLS at some point in his career, but most people assumed that it would happen at a later day when he was closer to calling it quits.

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He is certainly the biggest name to come here since Pele and Franz Beckenbauer played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s.

But unlike those soccer greats, Beckham, who will be 32 in May, is hardly a washed-up has-been when he arrives.

He may have lost his place in Real Madrid's starting 11, but that has more to do with the philosophical change brought on by new coach Fabio Capello and his dismantling of the club's "galactico" era than with any sudden decline in Beckham's ability.

A dozen clubs throughout Europe are said to have inquired about his availability.

But where could he have gone? A return to England never seemed likely. The Premiership's four top teams -- Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool -- have emphasized youth in their transfer dealings.

And it's hard to see Beckham, still the most recognizable and marketable sports figure in the world, toiling away in a second-tier team like Bolton.

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Despite his public pleadings, Beckham knows that his England career is probably over.

So instead of trading down to a lesser club in Europe, he is choosing to do something completely different.

In the United States, he will be instrumental in broadening soccer's appeal.

He'll be entering a league that is far removed from the crazy financial excess that plagued the star-studded NASL, and which ultimately led to its demise.

Today's MLS is a well-oiled business that has benefited from 10 yeas of mostly sensible planning.

The LA Galaxy, which owns the Home Depot Center in Carson, south of Los Angeles, was the first MLS team to turn a profit.

The recent change in salary cap rules, which allows sides to make "marquee signings" of top international stars, is designed to move the league to the next level.

Clearly the Beckham signing is a huge marketing coup for the MLS. The news generated more media coverage in one day than the league has received in the last year.

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Beckham is probably the one player who is capable of filling stadium seats with the most casual of American fans.

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," says Timothy Leiweke, president of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the LA Galaxy.

Beckham's arrival may legitimize the MLS not only in the eyes of soccer fans around the world, but also in the eyes of foreign stars who may begin to view the league with greater interest.

Don't be surprised if another one of Real Madrid's galacticos, Ronaldo, pops up on these shores in the not-too-distant future.

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