Coming to America Too

And now the end is near, and David Beckham faces the final curtain - at least on his time at Real Madrid.

Should Beckham leave Real Madrid, two things will, or should, drive him. The first is to force his way back into contention for the England team. The second - which goes hand in hand with that, but should be far more important to him - is to prove to the doubters that he can still cut it as a top-flight footballer.

Given those two aims, the much-touted news that week that he fancies a move to the USA - where Beckham has previously said he would like to finish his career, and where he has been linked with Red Bull New York in recent weeks - serves no purpose whatsoever.

Oh, it might be lucrative, but I genuinely can't believe money is that much of a factor to Beckham. Surely it isn't. Wages, image rights and sponsorship deals have made him impossibly wealthy. He has more money than he can ever spend.

Yes, Beckham has said he'd like to finish his career in the USA, but remember he is only 31. He can easily play two or three seasons in (apologies to MLS fans) a real league, and still head over and spend a couple of years swanning around the States afterwards.

The problem, of course, is where. Beckham is unlikely to try his hand in Italy, and might as well just head to the USA now rather than bother with any of the other European leagues. But a return to the Premiership would be perfect for the former England skipper - if he could cope with the ego-bruising fact that it would not be with one of the Big Four. However, a second tier Premiership club - one looking to build and challenge the top four - might be the ideal destination. Can you see where I'm going with this? That's right whochh EPL club do you know that spends massive bucks on over-the-hill ex-supertars that nobody else wants anymore....

Welcome to Newcastle Mr. Beckham. See you down the pub soon....