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Beckham's affair with United could be coming to a close

London June 8 . David Beckham's love affair with Manchester United could be over by the end of this week after the club confirmed it 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 champion made it clear it had decided to try and cash in its 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 champion AC Milan, all reportedly interested in signing the England captain for a fee in the region of £30 million ($50 million).

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 is hampered by the fact that its dismal domestic campaign this season means it 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 its intentions has been revived this week and there have been reports it could be prepared to hand over Luis Figo as part of the deal.

Although most football experts would regard Figo 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 has 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 is backed by TIM, Vodafone's main rival 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 pop star 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 quarterfinal 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 is already in advanced negotiations about bringing Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho to Old Trafford in a deal expected to be worth around £10 million.

But it also needs 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.

AFP

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