Time to say goodbye

I'm not a massive fan of David Beckham and, frankly, never have been. It's not that I don't think he's any good - far from it. I fully appreciate and respect his achievements in the modern game. Some of my greatest memories in football revolve around the man with possibly the sweetest right foot I've ever witnessed.

The last minute free-kick against Greece in 2001 was about as heart-stopping and dramatic as, well, your heart actually stopping. His emphatic, if slightly badly directed, penalty against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup was one of only a few moments where I've actually leapt from my sofa during a game and 'gone mental'. In either case, it was as if I was celebrating right there and then with Becks himself. It's a unique ability that he and few others possess - as if he picks and chooses his most dramatic moments in concurrence with what his audience would want to see. He is simply one of the finest players to ever play for England.

Hell, he's played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, three of Europe's best and most prestigious clubs. When he eventually retires, it'll be tough for him to look back and lament many aspects of what he did, although once suspects he'll wish he kept his temper in check that night in St Etienne just over ten years ago.

But that's where my approval of him unfortunately ends and there's a multitude of reasons why. In some countries, Beckham is better known for his celebrity image rather than his exploits with a football. 'Brand Beckham' is a commercial juggernaut, a limitless roll call of advertising and sponsorships deals that plasters his face on billboards and magazine covers all over the world. Long ago, Beckham outgrew the restraints of being a simple footballer and branched outside of the sporting bubble and onto the world scene.

His relationship with his pop star wife Victoria is possibly responsible for the archetypal footballer and musician relationship that tabloids and gossip magazines now thrive on. Beckham enjoys global recognition and his every move is covered, written about and photographed.

And it's all a bit much for me. I'm all for the bloke trying to make a bit of money outside of football - if you've a marketable image then why not make best use of it. But it strikes me as too much power for a mere sportsman. The second he is decorated for his celebrity achievements rather than bending a ball into the back of a net, then the football becomes superfluous and we're not just discussing a very good right midfielder, we're discussing a world symbol - an icon for an assembly of industries.

Ever since his move to Los Angeles, where he commands a lucrative salary playing for LA Galaxy, his face is becoming more and more recognisable on the other side of the pond but not exactly for sporting reasons. In the 'soccer-unfirendly' climate in the US, Beckham is known for hobnobbing with movie stars and attending award ceremonies.

The move to America was doubtless fuelled by the lure of money and I'm sure a word or two in his ear from Victoria would have pushed him into signing on the dotted line. The decision to choose substandard Major League Soccer football over the other offers he was considering at the time was difficult to comprehend and contributed to my slight disapproval of him.

Having said all of that, one can't help be impressed by his insatiable quest to regain his England place in time for next summers World Cup. And I suspect he needs to leave LA in order to both make that dream more concrete and for his own well-being. When he's played for England of late, mainly as an impact sub, he's done his job to the best of his ability. Gone may be the energy and pace of his youth but what remains is match winning experience and the ability to play pitch-length passes that many are unable to. He's not an automatic starter anymore and rightly so but he still offers value to the side and that cannot be underestimated.

When Beckham went on loan to Milan last spring, his motives were transparent; the standard of football was infinitely better than in the MLS and a good run of performances would ultimately impress his national coach and get him back into some kind of competitive shape. So it's entirely understandable that he would want to return to Italy should the opportunity arise or at least to another club back in Europe. Even he must realise now that his American experiment has not gone entirely to plan and that it's time to come home.

Beckham has made his desire to return east public in America and fans at LA Galaxy haven't taken to it all too well. Having already alienated himself from his team-mates, he's also made a few enemies in the stands as demonstrated by both the angry confrontation between himself and a group of fans last week and another altercation, this time with a man in an England shirt, ironically. Beckham was fined $1000 (£600) for the first incident and it appears he is fast running out of friends. Maybe he can give Tom Cruise a call for emotional support?

Hollywood buddies aside, it's hard to see how Beckham can continue plying his trade out in the States, with conditions how they are now. He knows the level of football isn't good enough for him and now he has lost the support of the public, he cannot flourish in such a potentially aggressive environment. A host of clubs would be happy to take Beckham on. Milan have stated their desire to see him back with them, Chelsea have been linked due to Beckham's relationship with new boss Carlo Ancelotti and Tottenham and Manchester City have also been named as potential suitors.

Beckham is, as always, not short of options. But, one things for certain, in order to thrive and to make the best of his waning years in the game, he needs to leave LA Galaxy sharpish. One can understand the fans frustration with his desire to leave but they need to understand, he's simply better than their league.

His World Cup dream could still be alive but nevertheless, it promises to be an interesting few weeks for Goldenballs.