MONACO — As Monaco is interested in signing former England captain David Beckham, the second-tier French club's chief executive Tor-Kristian Karlsen told local media Friday. “Our team is very young. If we're lucky enough to attract a player to Monaco with such charisma, such a competitive spirit and who is physically in form it would be terrific,” Karlsen told the daily Parisien/Aujourd'hui newspaper. The Norwegian also told sports daily l'Equipe: “We have a very young team who could benefit from a player of his (Beckham's) stature, experience and personality. “But there is obviously a lot of interest from clubs from around the world in such an illustrious player. Now we're an ambitious club and when a player of this stature becomes available, it's normal that we are on the alert.” Beckham's six-year playing career with Major League Soccer will end with his final game for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Houston this weekend after he announced he was looking forward to “one more challenge” outside of the MLS. The 115-time capped England player is expected to make a decision on where he will end up playing next by the end of the year. Sources close to the player have confirmed an approach by Monaco. Perth owner in shock Perth Glory owner Tony Sage says he was blindsided by the AFC's move to cut Asian Champions League entry slots for Australia clubs a week before the draw, denying his A-League side a place in the region's top club competition. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided at its executive committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur Thursday that only two Australian teams would compete in the Champions League next season, down from three this year. As third-place finisher in last season's A-League, which concluded in April, Perth will miss out on a berth, and Sage was unhappy after he said he had been told they would be in and had already made provisions to compete in the tournament. “We had spent up to A$70,000 ($73,100) on a different kit for the ACL, that's an extra player for next season that we could have spent that money on. And we had a new sponsor on board just for the ACL.So to be told a week before the draw Australia have lost a spot is bizarre,” Sage told AAP Friday. — Agencies
