After her husband David Beckham's controversial decision to move to Los Angeles, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham hit Hollywood on Saturday to scope out houses for the couple and their three sons. Soccer star Beckham stirred a hornet's nest when he announced he was ditching Real Madrid for Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy.
The decision, announced on January 11, involves a US$275 million pay packet for a five-year deal for Beckham. This includes a US$50 million paycheck, sponsorship contracts and a stake in the club's revenues. The soccer star's 33-year-old fashionista wife was spotted in Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, after she flew into tinsel town from London at about 3 pm.
Amid paparazzi rush, the former singer, clad in a white blouse and black pants and sporting huge sunglasses, rushed to a black SUV and took off without answering any media queries. For the former 'Spice Girls' singer, this would be a chance to be close to her Hollywood friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and also to try launching a showbiz career. Rumors abound that she is also considering a fashion line with singer-cum-businesswoman Jennifer Lopez, a natural progression for Victoria considering she has been on several best-dressed lists time and again and is considered a fashion icon.
Meanwhile, her husband's decision to move to LA Galaxy has met with mixed response. While the American soccer community has welcomed Beckham's entry as a boost, England and Spanish circles are seeing this as a step down for the 33-year-old footballer.
On Sunday, Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello slammed Beckham for not informing the club about his decision before signing on the dotted line for LA Galaxy. “He signed his contract before he spoke with Madrid and for me that doesn't seem right,” Capello said, and added that he was benching Beckham for the rest of his contract, which expires June 30. “I believe that if a player already has a contract elsewhere then it is not correct to count on him anymore,” he said, but added that Beckham was free to come and train with the other players.
Capello's decision to sideline the footballer met with approval from Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, who agreed with the coach that a contract with another club might dim Beckham's motivation. “I think it is logical for a player who has signed a contract with another team to have very limited chances of playing, especially if we take into account that we have many young players who are dying to prove themselves,” he said. given that Beckham hasn't been in top form lately, the decision comes as no surprise. His less-than-satisfactory stint with Real Madrid also puts paid to chances of return to the British football circuit.
On his part, the British soccer legend, however, still hopes to play for England someday. “I don't believe it is the end of my international career because I have always said…that while I am still playing football I will be available to play for my country,” said the footballer, who began his illustrious career with Manchester United. He added that he was prepared for other eventualities as well. “If I get the call, then amazing, if I don't, then I've had an amazing career for my country anyway,” Beckham said.
Despite the footballer's desire to return, Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson expressed strong doubts that he would be able to resume his England career. “Deep down, he was always a United fan and I don't think there was any chance of him going back to another English club. We wish him well. It's a big career change, from playing for Real Madrid to go and play in America,” Sir Ferguson said to an LA paper.
