David Beckham not going to Australia - for now

11:02 AM ET 11.17 | David Beckham said was he surprised by reports he would spend part of his winter playing in Australia, saying Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena was the first to tell him of the rumor Friday morning. "That's the first I've heard about it," the 37-year-old Beckham said. "But no, it's not true." That denial may not be entirely true since the Australia soccer federation says it was Beckham's management group that approached them about a short-term loan. "The approach from David Beckham's people is another sign of how much the Hyundai A-League has grown in stature on a global basis," the Australian federation said in a statement. "But this approach remains at a very preliminary stage." Beckham's camp responded with a statement of its own. "There is always enormous interest from clubs across the world in signing David as a player," said the statement, released to Sky Sports in England. "There are absolutely no plans to play in Australia. David is completely focused on the MLS playoffs and winning another championship with the Galaxy." Beckham has remained publicly noncommittal about his future with the Galaxy beyond Sunday and next month's MLS Cup, should the team advance that far.

Los Angeles Times