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Would States be such a Liberty for Beckham after an 'annus horribilis'?
Last updated at 15:07pm on 22.12.06
Spanish inquisition: Beckham's Madrid nightmare continues... for now
As David Beckham geared up for his Christmas celebrations this time last year the then England skipper had plenty to feel optimistic about.
After all, there was the possibility of finally lifting a trophy with Real Madrid in his third season in Spain, and, as he cast his thoughts to Germany and the summer, the supposedly realistic opportunity to become the nation's first skipper since Bobby Moore to get his hands on the World Cup.
Read more: • Beckham's month-by-month year of desperation • The season so far
As he boards his chartered jet bound for 'Beckingham Palace' this weekend, a week's rest in prospect from his gruelling schedule on the Madrid bench, the promise of a successful 2006 has been replaced 12 months later with the prospect of yet another 'annus horribilis'.
And while the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos began their yuletide holidays yesterday, Beckham's vacations have been delayed until tomorrow.
Not, mind you, thanks to fog at Heathrow or a baggage handlers strike at Barajas airport, rather because he has been called up for tonight's friendly match against city rivals Atletico in memory of their former president, Jesus Gil.
Beckham will be sharing the limelight with such Madrid household names as Adrián, Granero, Nieto and Valero. Never heard of them? Not surprising given their 'B' team status.
Yes, Raul, Guti and even Jose Antonio Reyes will be on show, but then again they don't have so far to travel for their glass of mulled Rioja.
The regulars and the foreigners have been given the night off, and the fact that Beckham's name is on the team-sheet perhaps underlines his current plight at Madrid. His starting role in Wednesday's 3-0 Bernabeu battering at the hands of minnows Recreativo de Huelva is another case in point, being only his fifth La Liga start since August.
Indeed, only once this campaign has he started a match Real have gone on to win and of their four defeats this season, Beckham has started in three.
However, that didn't stop him indulging in his usual clapping salute to all four corners of the magnificent 80,000 stadium at the final whistle, although there was only around 10,000 left inside by then.
Real would have you be believe that Beckham was handed his midweek starting place due to injuries to Antonio Cassano and Mahamadou Diarra, but the word in Spain is their absence was actually because they had been caught on camera slagging off coach Fabio Capello during a training session.
Beckham, of course, is too worldly wise to fall into such traps, but whatever the reason for his inclusion against 'Recre' it can come as little solace that he is only now to be considered by Capello either thanks to injury or punishment to those further up the pecking order.
Being surplus to requirements is something Beckham has had to get used to this year. Having tearfully limped out England's calamitous World Cup campaign, before the rest of his team-mates followed suit after there quarter-final defeat on penalties to Portugal, Beckham chose to hand over the armband.
Whatever his motives for the act, it did little to sway the opinion of new England coach Steve McClaren who, having watched Beckham at close quarters during his time at Manchester United and assistant to Sven Goran Eriksson, wasted no time in freezing him out of the international picture.
There is no denying Beckham is ready and willing to return to the fold. But as long as McClaren remains in charge their is little prospect of that happening, even injury to Aaron Lennon ahead of England's European Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia was not enough to force the former Middlesbrough boss into a change of heart.
His best chance to revive his England career would of course be a return to the Premiership in the summer when his four-year deal in Spain comes to an end.
Despite noises to the contrary there has been little movement on agreeing a two-year extension in Madrid. And even if the mutterings of one of Real's directors that they would rather Beckham decided to leave of his own volition are to be discounted, their remains little possibility of him putting pen to paper on a deal while he continues to be out of the first team picture.
Neither is Beckham looking to move in January either, however. By the time the Spanish season starts up again next year he will be eligible to talk to other clubs. Talk he will, but the plan is to have all his options in place come the summer before making a final decision on where to see out the remaining years of his top level career.
Bolton are interested, as are the hierarchy at Spurs, even if their manager is not. Celtic also remain a viable option but at present the glitz and glamour of the United States and Major League Soccer is still the most likely destination.
It has been said a move to the States, most probably with LA Galaxy thanks to his business ties with owner Philip Anschutz, would be an admission on Beckham's part that his career, come the summer he will be 32,is all but over.
But in Beckham's mind-set, and with no disrespect to either Bolton on Spurs, a move back to England to a club not of Manchester United's stature would rank as a similar admission.
By contrast, if Beckham's epitaph to the footballing world is for him to be seen as the man who finally cracked soccer in The States, it becomes easier to see why a move across the pond would be more appealing.
Decisions about his future will be discussing in the ensuing months in his plush office on Madrid's boutique lined Calle Serrano.
If you crane your neck out of the window you can just about see the plaza containing the statue of Cristobal Colon, Christopher Colombus to you and me, pointing in the direction of the new world.
For Beckham, the intrepid explorer would seem to be pointing in the right direction.
Reader views (4)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
This boy is going to White Hart Lane - no danger!
- Ted, Shetland
I hope he decides to come to the US now. In 2-3 years, he will not have nearly the impact nor be nearly as welcomed as he would be right now. His stock is very high in the US right now, but will not remain that way if he puts the US off for a few years. He would then be seen as a novelty rather than a star player that could help the team.
- Andrew, Los Angeles
Having David Beckham move to MLS would be a win/win situation for both MLS and Beckham. David Beckham even in the US is an icon that transends sports and the attention and publicity to the game would help boost the game to the next level. It would certainly help turn more football fans into MLS fans which is clearly one of MLS's major challenges.
As for Beckham, he wins by moving to the very center of commerical exposure and sponsorship where the opportunities are boundless. Beckham also has an opportunity to begin setting the stage for his life after the game whether that be through his acadamies or other venues.
The one possible fly in the ointment, overlooked by many in Britian, is the huge strides the game has made in the US. As someone who grew up in England but has lived in the US for many years, I can tell you the level of MLS play is much, much better than many assume. Obviously, MLS is not at the level of Real Madrid, but don't think an out of form or over the hill Beckham can just walk on the field and dominate. He won't.
Expectations for Beckhams play will be high. Otherwise a team like the Galaxy will have a similiar problem to DC United's with Freddy Adu. A name player whose form may not warrent playing time, but whose marketing value cannot be overlooked.
- Nick Prodanovich, Potomac Falls, USA
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