Beckham's days at United numbered as club confirms transfer talks

David Beckham's love affair with Manchester United could be over by the end of this week after the club confirmed they had opened talks with potential buyers.

Beckham, a lifelong United supporter who signed for the club as a 14-year-old schoolboy, has repeatedly insisted he does not want to leave Old Trafford.

But in a statement released on Saturday, the English champions made it clear they had decided to try and cash in their most marketable asset.

"Manchester United can confirm today that clubs from Italy and Spain have expressed a firm interest in signing David Beckham," the statement said.

"David's advisers, SFX, have also been approached by clubs independently and we are in regular and close contact with them regarding the status of those discussions, which are ongoing.

"David has been kept informed while on holiday."

Saturday's statement follows months of speculation over Beckham's future with Barcelona, Real Madrid and European champions AC Milan all reportedly interested in signing the England captain for a fee in the region of 30 million pounds (50 million dollars).

Barcelona's interest has been the most public after Joan Laporta, a candidate to become president of the Catalan giants, said he would sign Beckham if he wins the election on June 15.

Barcelona however are hampered by the fact that their dismal domestic campaign this season means they will not even be in the UEFA Cup next season, far less the Champions League.

Real formally denied making an approach for Beckham in April. But speculation about their intentions have been revived this week and there have been reports they could be prepared to hand over Luis Figo as part of the deal.

Although Figo would be regarded by most football experts as a more valuable asset than Beckham on the field, he cannot compete with the Englishman's status as a global icon who has arguably become the best known athlete on the planet.

Milan have the advantage of knowing that, on a personal level, Beckham is more attracted by a move to Italy than to Spain.

But any deal with Milan would be complicated by Beckham's personal contract with United's major sponsor, the mobile phone giants Vodafone.

Milan are backed by TIM, Vodafone's main rivals in the Italian cellular market.

Beckham insisted in early May that he wants to stay at Old Trafford and his representatives have denied initiating a move away from the club.

But this season has seen a significant deterioration in his relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson, who has always had little time for the celebrity lifestyle of Beckham and his popstar wife Victoria.

A dressing room bust-up after United's FA Cup defeat by Arsenal in February ended with Beckham needing stitches in his forehead after being hit by a boot Ferguson had kicked in anger.

In April, the 28-year-old found himself relegated to the substitutes bench for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, United's biggest game of the season.

Financial considerations also appear to be driving United towards a sale.

Ferguson is determined to bring the European Cup back to Manchester and knows that, in a depressed transfer market, the money raised by selling Beckham could fund the purchase of three or more players who could help realise that goal.

United are already in advanced negotiations about bringing Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho to Old Trafford in a deal expected to be worth around 10 million pounds.

But they also need to sign a top-class defender, a long-term replacement for Roy Keane as midfield anchorman and a new goalkeeper to take over from the injury-prone Fabien Barthez.

Ferguson has admitted an interest in Real Sociedad's Xavi Alonso, seen as a potential Keane successor, and has also been keeping tabs on the availability of Leeds' Australian winger Harry Kewell.

Source: Worldsoccernews.com

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