Followers

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Will Beckham return to the Premiership?

David Beckham is currently back with LA Galaxy after a 5 month loan with AC Milan. However despite Beckham putting in an impressive display during his first appearance for the LA team this season, playing a cross-field ball with pinpoint accuracy to set up his team mates for the first goal and kicking an equally well targeted corner to set up the second goal for the 2:2 draw against AC Milan in a showpiece friendly on 19th July, Beckham's popularity with US football fans remains low. He was booed by a significant section of the crowd, who understandably feel Beckham's desire to stay in Italy for the first half the US season demonstrates a lack of commitment to the Galaxy.

Will Beckham therefore choose to leave the US and if so, where will he go? When the former England captain and most capped English outfield player left Manchester United in 2003, he stated that he would not return to the Premiership. However his ambitions to represent England in South Africa mean that lining up against his beloved Manchester United in the domestic competition is an option he has to consider. The England Manager Fabio Capello has already suggested that playing at European level would significantly boost Beckham's chances of making the England World Cup squad and although Beckham is keen to return to the San Siro, he is not ruling out Premiership clubs, saying: "I will do everything possible. I'll always regret it if I didn't do everything to give myself a chance to be involved in that [England's World Cup Squad]".

Beckham has a five-year Major League Soccer contract which began in 2007 and despite the negative reactions from the Galaxy fans, Beckham has re-iterated his commitment to the club and desire to see out this contract (and given its rumoured value of $250 million, who can blame him?). However this contract allows for him to spend the off-season on loan at a European club. A return to Serie A seems his more likely move, but there are also rumours of a move to Chelsea this winter after under new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was Milan coach during the Beckham's time in Italy. Tottenham and Manchester City are also whispered to be interested in Becks.

Six years ago it would have been unthinkable that we'd see Beckham in a City jersey, but football is a funny old game. Who would have thought even 2 years ago that City would be bankrolled by billionaires? Who would have thought 2 months ago that Michael Owen would be turning out next season for Manchester United?

Whatever the future holds for David Beckham, the guy has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan and also managed to negotiate himself a multi million pound deal which allows him to spend the winter in California. This is a hell of a CV and a retirement plan for a man some claim is stupid!!