Beckham's LA move in the balance as England return could net him £50m

13 April 2012

The pressure on David Beckham to stay in England and risk a rift with wife Victoria increased today as it was revealed he could earn up to £50 million with his national team comeback.

If the former England skipper makes a successful comeback and helps the team qualify for next year's European championships, his move to Los Angeles Galaxy will be thrown into further doubt.

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Beckham has signed a five-year £125m deal with LA Galaxy but the move is considered by many to be a semi-retirement from the game and the 32-year-old is known to be keen to push his England career further and scoop 100 caps.

If the Real Madrid midfielder plays, as expected, against Brazil on Friday and in next Wednesday's European Championship qualifier in Estonia he will be on 96 caps.

PR expert Max Clifford believes a successful return to the national side could boost the "Beckham brand" to the tune of £50million and make him "golden boy" once more.

Beckham's recent performance for Real Madrid, heping them to top the Spanish league, brought about his recall by England coach Steve McClaren.

But wife Victoria is known to be keen to bring her husband over the the US as soon as possible and has been busy organising a home and schools for the couple's three boys.

She has meticulously plotted their move to LA with a new social set including Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes, and Jennifer Lopez.

A new reality television series trailing Victoria's new LA lifestyle has begun filming around the city. Any hitch in her grand LA plan would not prove popular.

Los Angeles Galaxy bosses could still scupper Beckham's plans and have already expressed their concern and ruled out a loan move back to the Premiership during the latter part of next season.

Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton and Blackburn have considered signing the former England captain on a three-month deal and give him the opportunity to prove he is worthy of consideration for Euro 2008.

The Major League season ends in November and does not start again until April. But Galaxy chiefs have been quick to remind Beckham that he will be required for pre-season training in mid-February.

Coach Frank Yallop said: "He won't be going on loan anywhere. He'll be taking a break at that point and getting ready for our pre-season. He has shown he's a world-class player. He doesn't need to go back and go on loan anywhere."

Yallop said the club would not try to stop Beckham reaching 100 caps.

The likelihood of him returning for England next season did, however, appear remote until Aaron Lennon was ruled out yesterday with a twisted knee.

When McClaren dropped Beckham from his first England squad, he hoped to see Lennon emerge as a first-team regular.

But injury and indifferent form have prevented that from happening and, if the in-form Beckham plays well in the next two games, he could cement his place for the six autumn internationals.

Beckham does not see a problem about being available in the future, saying: "The US season is shorter — we only play 30 games a year — so we get more time off. I'll be a lot fitter, still as fit as I am now, maybe more fit."

The prospect of losing Beckham in the autumn — a critical part of their season — was not met with great enthusiasm by Galaxy, who have sold thousands of tickets in anticipation of Beckham's arrival.

General manager Alexei Lalas said: "From a business perspective it is not the greatest news because we are selling the team with David Beckham and a lot of people are excited to see him play with the Galaxy.

"We will deal with it from a business perspective, but for us to say one of our players is representing England internationally is a great thing.

"There are business challenges but there is an educated public here when it comes to this international game we play.

"It is no different from when our American players are called up to play in tournaments. We lose them at different times and we deal with it."

But Lalas is not keen to lose Beckham for an international friendly. England are expected to open the new international season with an August clash against Germany at Wembley.

He said: "I don't want to stand in the way of a player representing his country but we have to be prudent and understand they have to be the appropriate games. I would think they would have to be competitive matches.

"If the scheduling works out, we would be happy to let him go. But he has a responsibility on and off the field to our organisation and to our support. I think he is excited about pursuing that responsibility.

"He recognises that responsibility to the Galaxy and to the sport in the United States. I represented my country and I know what means.

"It is something above money, it is something you take with you forever.

"But we have a responsibility to make sure David's health is looked after. This is a hell of a trip he is going to be taking by coming to the United States and it can take its toll.

"We know when we have guys playing in England and they have to come back here for games, it is a very difficult proposition. I think he is up to it to a certain extent, but we will sit down and talk to him."

Lennon's absence not only provides the underfire McClaren with some justification for recalling Beckham but also all but guarantees his place in England's starting line-up on Friday, even though, as McClaren admitted on Saturday, he has not even been to see Beckham in action for a Real Madrid side who currently lead the Spanish league. But he did reveal he has "had a meeting with him".

It could, however, leave McClaren with another selection headache if he wants to avoid choosing the midfield that performed so poorly at last year's World Cup.

Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole did not excel as a unit and McClaren may have to be brave and leave out Lampard for the second successive game.

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