David Beckham’s been out of the news for so long, it started to seem like retirement was more likely than return. Whereas the former LA Galaxy star said he had one more challenge left in him after this year’s MLS Cup final, a month passed without word from the icon. At 37 years old, the man should be afforded time to make his decision, but with his family enjoying themselves in London (making appearances at events like this weekend’s West Ham-Manchester United match), it started to look like life after soccer was finally here.
Not so, says a Wednesday report from England’s Press Association. The brief update says Beckham will make a decision next week after receiving offers from 12 different clubs:
The report goes on to say a return to England is not in the cards (links to Queens Park Rangers, West Ham and Manchester United set to fall flat).
Likewise, it seems very unlikely Beckham returns to North America, having already said he doesn’t plan on playing in Major League Soccer (though it would be interesting to see Beckham on Club América).
If Russia’s among the suitors, you have to think Anzhi Makhachkala’s calling. In China, league champion Guangzhou Evergrande are most likely (though they’re not the only big spenders in the CSL).
Who knows what Beckham could make in the Middle East (it only takes one Shiekh with a crush), but that destination along with South Africa seems unlikely.
The most intriguing to me is Brazil, and not only because fellow set piece master Juninho Pernambucano just came the other way. Multiple clubs in the Campeonato could make it worth Beckham’s financial while, and although Brazil isn’t the usual landing spot for expatriate Britons, Beckham isn’t your normal English player. He’s played in La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League, and among the leagues listed as his latest suitors, only Brazil’s comes close to approaching that level of prestige.
But when Beckham came to Los Angeles, league prestige wasn’t his priority. It was a lifestyle choice. It was a business choice. He was embracing a new challenge.
Depending on how he and his family view the East Asia, China would check all those boxes, too.
So if forced to rank the Press Association’s list based on my ill-informed views, I’d have China and Brazil as co-favorites; Europe, Russia, and the Middle East on the next level; North America and South Africa as very unlikely.
