After Manchester United’s 4-0 win over AC Milan last night and witnessing the great reception David Beckham received, Wayne Rooney claimed he hopes the fans will one day view him in the same light.
“David has been a great servant to this club and all the United players were delighted he got a great reception,” said Rooney. “I hope I can become as well respected and thought of at this club as David Beckham. I have plenty of years ahead of me and if I get half of the plaudits he has been getting then I will be delighted.”
David Beckham spent eight seasons in United’s first team, winning six league titles, the European Cup and two FA Cups, before choosing to sign for Real Madrid just after he turned 28-years-old.
Wayne Rooney is now playing in his sixth season at Manchester United, having won three league titles, the European Cup, two League Cups and the FIFA World Club Cup.
Legendary status can’t be measured by success and the trophy haul alone, obviously, but it does help. Attitude, commitment and longevity of a career also play a part.
Rooney’s not facing the end of the career like Beckham is, so it’s much harder to reflect, but I’d argue Rooney is up there in terms of the players United fans have the most love for.
Last night the crowd had been whipped up in to frenzy about Beckham’s visit but it was fitting that he was received well. Beckham chose to leave us, for what he regarded to be a step up, whilst Rooney is still here. Whether Rooney is regarded by all fans as a bigger legend than Beckham will depend on whether he chooses to leave us too, or whether he stays true to his ambitions now and doesn’t leave United.
Man Utd News 24/7
Sorry Wayne, no can do.
You’re gonna be much better respected than Beckham.
just don’t ever leave us then……
happy birthday boogeymate
Wayne Rooney is well on the way to been in the same bracket of charlton best Eric etc
Modest Wayne. Next season he will become our top scorer in the Fergie era.
costas – who is our top scorer in fergi’s era ? is it ole or ruud ? never bothered about that one anyway
You are already considered a Legend kid!! Just dont believe the hype and keep working your bollocks off and there will be a statue outside OT!!
@RED SAM
Giggs surpassed Ruud this season. He is on 152. Here’s the current list:
Giggs 152
Ruud 150
Scholes 148
Rooney 127
McClair 127
So Wayne will get there next season. Surely.
Ole is on 126 by the way.
The boy will beat Ronaldo’s 42 goal mark
To beat Law he will need a couple of hat tricks, hopefully starting with Fulham this weekend
How many for Andy Cole?
Your already adored Wazza, 37 games, 35 starts, 30 goals = world class.
@TeeJ
Andy has 121. I should point out that Mark Hughes’ total is 163, but under Sir Alex it’s 114.
It’s tough to say how far Wayne will go. He is on 30. We have 9 Pr.League games left and a maximum of 5 Ch.League games. So it’s 11 games minimum and 14 games maximum. Personally, I think he will reach 40 and could equal Ronaldo’s tally. But Ruud and Law’s tallies could be a step too far.
Have to disagree with you say Beckham choose to leave old trafford.
I think its pretty obvious that the reson beckham left is because he became too much of a celebrity and wanted the celebrity image fergie wouldnt have that and he had to leave if he wanted to continue like that.
I think is became had the choice he would of stayed and been a celebrity with playing for united! Fergie wouldnt have it, they fell out he left… they probably both regret it to a certain extent but it seems obvious to me that beckham wishes he stayed like scholes and giggs.
simply modest wayne rooney is. with this progress rate, Rooney will get a much better reception than Beckham.
Oh and i reckons ronaldo will regret it in time too! however, Ronaldo DID choose to leave…
@Evra’s biggest fan
A very accurate assessment. My thoughts exactly.
I do love this site and your articles Scott. But I do have one thing to pick up and that is the fact that you state that Beckham chose to leave to a club that he regarded as a step up. Now is that true is there a quote of this???
My understanding was that Fergie chose to sell Becks because his importance to United had been on the decline. The media circus that follows Becks was starting to become a distraction with regards to his performances. Therefore Fergie chose to accept a £25 million pound bid for a player that was no longer indispensible at the club.
Granted Becks did have the choice after the offer was accepted but if he had would he have remained a first choice pick?
@Costas and Evra’s biggest fans exactly, but i am glad he left
@Cantona7
I wouldnt say i was glad he left but i remember that in the end it became obvious something had to give. Not to say i wasnt gutted when he left.
But in hindsight it worked in our favor. Which is a testiment to fergie more than anything christ knows what will happen when he leaves!
his name isnt david beckham anymore
after that fantastic decision to put on that scarf hes no called
Green and Golden Balls
Beck to the future, Rooney’s the man.
Beckham did not ‘choose to leave us’ though. He’s said countless times he never wanted to leave United and would have stayed his whole career.
Absolute legend, delighted he got such a reception.
Afternoon mates been a long time not being on ROM. i hope you guys have been well and well last night what can i say absolutely electrifying atmosphere and what great work rate from everyone! Up and Onwards! One United! Wazza is on the way to legendary status!
July 2nd 2003: “Of course I love my family. I have a wonderful life, but football is everything to me and joining Real Madrid is a dream come true. I would like to say thank you to everyone coming and joining me in my arrival. Gracias – hala Madrid!”
May 20th 2006 – “I have had five trainers and three presidents in the three years I have been at the club, but I am used to change and I am happy in the team and in Madrid. My idea is still to retire at Real Madrid. It’s true I have not won a trophy since I arrived, but just playing for Madrid is like winning a trophy for me.
October 24th 2006 – “Maybe he [Sir Alex] didn’t want me to leave.”
Ha guys 1 more thing guess Ronnie is living the DREAM with the clusterfuck huh! ha they did them 200 million pounds gone down the drain! It’s groundhog day in Madrid,out of the champions league at the last 16 stage ha ha!
when beckham was interviewed and asked if he had any advice for rooney, he said to keep doing whats he’r doing, work hard and don’t leave united. I think he made the move he thought was right at the time, maybe wi a little nudge from sir alex, but think looking back he would loved to have stayed at united. And rooney boy, don’t have any fear coz we’ve always respected you and always will
scott will you please stop your ridiculous anti-beckham obsession, its becoming embarrassing.
Jimmy – Anti-Beckham obsession? Just because I don’t want to bum the guy it doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with disliking him. People were claiming he never wanted to leave United and that Ferguson forced him out, I merely provided quotes to prove that is bullshit.
Oh come on Scott
You cant expect a player to join a new club and sing praises of his former club.You dont expect Becks to go to Madrid and say he isnt hapy or he felt he loved united more. He will want to make the right noises and endear himself to his new fans. Thats all he did.
People do doubt whether he is just making things up but i trust him. he loved and will always love United. ONCE A RED ALWAYS A RED.
THERE IS INDEED ONLY ONE DAVID BECKHAM
The proof is the near tears in his eyes last night which he was holding back and his reaction to Uniteds 2nd goal at the Emirates last season in the CL semis
Thanks for providing the quotes Scott but in none of those state that he chose to leave us. One is clearly from his press conference when he joined Madrid so we cannot take anything in that seriously. Realistically what would we expect him to say after the two clubs agreed a fee……. That he never wanted to be at Madrid and would rather be still in Manchester?
Wayne Fucking Star* best player in the World right now bar NONE
In the quotes I provided, Beckham says that maybe Fergie was pissed off with him because he didn’t want him to leave. So if Beckham didn’t want to leave and Fergie didn’t want him to leave… who did? Did the club sell Beckham behind Fergie’s back? Don’t think so.
Can you remember a time when another player has left United, particularly one who is supposed to be a fan, claiming that it was “a dream come true” to play for another club? You can be happy to be at a club and obviously you don’t expect someone to say at the press conference they wish they weren’t there… but to claim it is a dream to play for Real Madrid is going above and beyond what would be required of him to say, if he really was pushed out of United against his will, don’t you thnk?
Not saying becks is right when he says saf forced him out but i guess both are at fault in this one.they could have sorted it out and patched up soon.we know what happens when a player falls out with saf thats nearly curtains for his united career
u are a role model, we will always respect u as long as u remain we us.
Rooney is simply a joy to watch. If he retired tomorrow he has legendary status, he is a fucking beast of a player. THE most complete footballer and THE best English footballer of the last 30 years or so. I love the lad, now thats a proper fucking legend.
@scott
possibly.but playing for a club is a dream come true is something nearly every player says.i dont take it seriously anymore.you hear all players who make a big money move say that in their first press conference for their new club.
Agree with ya Scott. No need to be THAT praising of the fascists. A simple “I am happy to join Madrid” would have sufficed. Oh dear its turning into another “is becks a proper red and a legend” discussion. Quick lets discuss Berbatov!!
Oh come on. Nobody really know’s what went on between SAF and Becks.
Nobody just leaves the club they are supposed to support.
But the media circus surrounding Becks and Ronnie was ridiculous.
Had Becks not been sold to the fascists Ronnie would never have become the player he is today as even if we did sign him he probably would have spent most of his time on the bench.
Plus SAF said the other day “I only wish Cristiano was still here” when talking about Rooney. To the best of my memory I don’t remember SAF ever saying that about Becks.
Yes he got a brilliant reception yesterday but we shouldn’t forget that all he is interested in is the Beckham brand. He is well versed in PR and he always says the right things to the right people.
i want all great united fans around the world to help me settle this argumentative question.
WHO SCORED MANCHESTER UNITED MOST IMPORTANT GOAL OF LAST SEASON
A. MACHEDA, AGAINST ASTON VILLA. 3.2
B.TEVEZ, STOKE. 1. O
C.RONALDO.4.2
Hi,
As far as I am concerned Rooney has already reached that status.
But this is like everyting. You have to show it over many years.
I hope he keeps performing like he is now.
COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS UNITED UNITED UNITED
LUHG
@King Eric
Berbatov is shite! Hehehe.
I like the 4-6-0 formation we played when he came on last night!
Rooney, that is already a given mate, no need to ask. You are loved and respected beyond any doubt. Speaking of this wonderful footballer, expect Real to do a Ronaldo style tapping up on him in the summer. Fucking cunts.
@Alpha RS
yeah it was frentic stuff anyway i think berba is world class all he needs is confidence we can’t deny what he brings to the team mate. anyway we crushed Milan and we deserved to go through to the next stage bring on the arsewipes,bavarians,or any team for that matter we’ll be ready for BATTLE! Hated Adored But Never Ignored! WE ARE UNITED!
LUHG
Reflecting on Madrid’s elimination I wonder if they will make Rooney their next “project.” It would be hilarious for them to get the usual propaganda campaign rolling only for Rooney to tell them to fuck off, as he undoubtedly would.
@asite, I would say the Macheda goal was the most significant. It reinvigorated our title challenge and had a hugely demoralising effect on the scousers. The thread on RAWK for that game is one of my favourite things in the history of the internet. I can’t even remember the Ronaldo goal you are referring to?
@Fred
They already have:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23814397-real-madrid-to-target-wayne-rooney.do
Lousy bastards.
Any player who has left for Madrid has done so largely out of a desire to stroke their own ego and for the financial windfalls obviously.
I for one still regard the Bernabeu at a graveyard where a majority of English and other international careers go to die.
Likewise during the time of Beckham’s departure, Brand Beckham was probably a priority to him rather than that of Manchester United and as time is a testament to the club’s ethos, the moment any player no matter how incandescent a talent puts their own self interest ahead of the club, they’re gone; they’re no longer of the mindset OR psychology to perform to the optimum for the Theater of Dreams.
Playing for United should never be seen as anything other than the most divine of blessings. If anyone laments the club is “holding them back”, as it seemed the case in Beckham and Ronaldo, they’re more than welcome to kiss the hairy old nutsack of reality when it all comes crashing down and they’ve realized just how much they have royally fucked up the opportunity of their lifetimes.
Only the greatest have stayed to bask in the honour that is to play at this hallowed field of legend . And not ONE of them I reckoned has ever regretted that decision.
Tough titties to all the ones who thought they could do better. Tough titties and AU REVOIR!
@Costas
What a joke. They really dont learn do they? When will Perez get it through his head that it doesnt matter how many stars you buy (or in Wazza’s case try to buy) if you cant gel them into a team? We’ve seen what happens when Rooney and Ronaldo play together: Rooney becomes less effective because Ronaldo’s movement prevents him from operating in the areas he’s now using for United.
Even were it humanly possible to conceive of Wayne leaving United it would be yet another idiotic tactical blunder like trying to stick Kaka and Ronaldo in the same team, for example. You cant stick round pegs into square holes you need your Park’s and stuff to do the donkey work for the big names. Madrid don’t get that that’s why they’re destined to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Rooney’s a home bird, no chance he’ll go to them fcuker’s.
Anyone else see Beckham’s interview with ITV (think it was before the game)? Becks was asked what advice he’d give to Rooney, to which he replied “just enjoy it and stay at Manchester United”
Hope you’re taking heed Wayne and learning from Cristiano’s mistakes. Oh, and well said David
@United4eva
As I said in another thread, they have no basis to lure him in. Look at the reasons for which Becks, Ruud, Heinze and Ronaldo joining Madrid. Rooney doesn’t fit the bill in either case. His lifestyle is in check, he won’t fall out with Sir Alex because he isn’t selected in a few games, he doesn’t want to go to Liverpool(moronic Heinze!) and Real are not his dream club. This comment from Rooney about Beckham’s Man United status tells us the whole story. All that’s left is for Man UNited to tie him up for the next several years.
Real don’t understand that their problems have little to do with their attack. Say they bring someone like Mourinho. What’s he going to say? I need more strikers? Or that Alonso deserves someone better than Lassana Diara next to him? Or that Pepe isn’t worthy if playing for them? As you said, they never learn.
From Kaka’s Twitter, on Pellegrini: “He’s a coward manager who changed a player to hide his own incompetence.”
What a classless act from a supposed “nice guy” of football, what a farce of a club he plays for. Nice move, Ronnie!
Costas
They will never get rooney. If he wins the ballon d’or here, it will have tied him with the club and the only thing he will be after will be the records for united and england and that will be just good news for us.
As we look to create a post – fergi team , we shall need players who would have stayed longer and understood the meaning of putting the red jersey.
Rooney, fletch, rafael, anderson, evans, evra, nani, valencia, morrison, keane, welbeck………
Will have a great responsibility during that transition
Big difference to Real going for Ronnie and Real going for Wazza. Can’t see it happening at all. Hope Wayne spends the rest of his career here.
@RED SAM
Don’t forget Macheda too. That period is probably 15 months away now. I am sure Fergie will have a say in what happens after he steps down.
@Fred
I heard that he said something along those lines. I was one of those who considered him a class act. It’s real easy for Real to mess their heads isn’t it? He took forever to get taken off and he acted surprised. But a stat card below told the whole story. 59% succesful passes! Gibson has a better rate on a bad day!
In case anyone missed it
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/news/championsleague/manualstories/videobeckhamlooksbackatthemilanvmanunitedfirstlegandhailswaynerooney5478/default.html
Scott,
regarding to beckam moves to madrid i still believe he has no choices. my speculation is SAF gives him ultimatum united or your wife(in sense of lifestyle). at that time which club can gives the best offer and really want him? it’s obvious really. so his dream move to madrid just because there is the only destination for him. dont forget he is through and through united fan.
@Fred… Is that real Kaka or a fake one? I find that disgusting for a player to say that about his manager
Costas
imo when fergi steps down,he should compeletely do so and leave everything to his succesor.Mentoring him may bring conflicts with the new staff, officials and player’s if anything goes wrong, but doing it behind the scenes won’t be that bad.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/406963440?-11193
The whinger wasn’t impressed with our win over Milan.
Real just proves what we all know in a hearts. Money can’t put heart and character into a team. The United sides that Fergie has built have always had the right mix of “mature” purchases and homegrown talent. that’s how you build a “team”.
Still respect Ronaldo for all he did for us and for how he’s handled himself since he’s left. I’m only sorry RM are out as I’d like to have sung VIVA RONALDO again while we stuffed them 4-0!
Still can’t believe we killed AC Milan. My first European game at OT was in 1969 when we won 1-0 but went out. The Italians cheated unebelivably and the ref was on their payroll.
Justice a last!!!!
LU -IFIT
Scott The Red said “Beckham chose to leave us,”
I’m sorry but wasn’t he booted out of the team because of Fergie?Numerous times Becks has constantly said how he loves the club blah blah blah.
Surely a player who wants to leave(and I mean REALLY wants to) won’t say afterwords that they had loved the club would they?It would be highly hypocritical.
And Becks is not a hypocrite.
I don’t believe Beckham wanted to leave United either. Why would he?
@Fred
To increase the profile of the Beckam brand?
More money?
His mrs can get a sun tan?!
Hehehe.
@Costas
I agree. As I said its pretty much not humanly possible to conceive of Wayne leaving the North West nevermind England but my point was, even if he did want to, it wouldn’t solve their problems for all the reasons you mentioned. Perez never learns.
Fred – why would Beckham want to leave United?
1. Far higher wages
2. Far higher image rights
3. Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t flatter his ego
4. His wife wanted to leave Manchester
5. It was “a dream come true” (direct quote from Beckham)
Ashish – Becks is not a hypocrite? Sorry, what are you basing that on? You his mate? You know the guy? You don’t know what he is.
June 10th 2003: “I’ve never said that I’d never move away from Manchester, and I’ve never said that I’d end my career there.” The Telegraph.
Now he claims he ALWAYS said he wanted to stay at United forever.
I like the guy. I just can’t stand this blind love for him. He chose to leave and he’s had a great career, good on him, but I can’t abide by this attitude that he was FORCED to leave United. It’s bollocks. Like Becks said at the time, he never said he was going to stay forever.
@Scott
Stop stealing my thunder…!
Beckham had a choice when he left and the months leading up to him leaving but he decided to play for what he thought was a ‘bigger club’ and that was his downfall. For example:
1) he could have told his missis to shut the fuck up!!
2) he could have got his head down and grafted and improved his performances to show SAF he wanted to stay.
3) he could have publicly come out and said I DONT WANT TO GO (he was happy to go out in public with his little paper stich over his cut eye when SAF volleyed that boot at him)
4) he could have turned his back on the celebrity bullshit just like Scholes did and to an extent Giggs did.
Fact is he believed he was bigger than UTD, until he left, and then he realised what he had lost, just as Ronnie will start to very soon.
Following on from that tho, I will always consider Becks to be a great player for us, just as I will with Ronnie because you cant overlook the parts they both played in our history and they gave us some great moments to remember!!
Alpha, Victoria certainly did not want to leave England and didn’t move to Spain with him at first if memory serves, hence the Rebeca Loose [sic] situation.
She’s many things but let’s not paint her as a Mrs Vidic character!
Moving to Spain would not really help the Beckham brand at all and in fact would be bad for their popularity in their main market, the UK.
Anyway, back to football…
@ Fred
Victoria wanted him to sign for Milan mate, she even said it in some interview, that she wouldnt mind living in Milan as it would be good for both their careers.
Gee –
For me it clearly wasnt anything to do with telling his wife to shut the fuck up.
David Beckam became a brand far beyond football, he wasnt just david beckam united football played he was a celebrity with a celebrity wife that had to earn a living gaining attention and living a celebrity lifstyle… its this media circus that fergie detests.
I honestly think that fergie never had a problem with beckham the footballer he desire to play or ability but the media circus that he was bringing with him towards that end was detracting from united as a football club and brand in itself! a brand of no one is bigger than the club!
And for beckham real was the ready made solution because they crave that image there brand is all about celebrities footballers that wont to look good while playing. beckham could do both be a globe troting celebrity promoting himself and real.
PS what else is he going to say when he joins a new club, ‘its nice but i prefer united but good one for paying 25million for me! “
To me Rooney has already achieved the same respect and will probably surpass Becks because I think he’ll finish his career here with a lot lot more trophies and very possibly winning the World Player of the Year award.
@Fred
That was Kaka’s “advisor’s” twitter account, not his own.
@Fred
Just watched the highlights of the Real Madrid v Lyon game.
http://eurorivals.net/highlights/real-madrid_v_lyon_20100310.html
Ronnie throws a lovely strop first half when he is wide open for a pass to score. Those memories bring a tear to my eye….
Then at full time he walks off the pitch shaking his head in disbelief.
I don’t know why but I get some sort of satisfaction from that.
Did God know your dreams would be like this?! Hehehe.
I think Beckham’s interview with ITV last night shows he recognises how silly he was. They asked him what advice he had for Rooney and one of the answers was “stay at Man Utd”.
Becks, like Ronaldo, began to think of himself as a brand separate from (even superior to Man Utd). Who was it that called the paparazzi after he got hit with the flying boot to tell them he’d be coming out of his house cut showing for pictures?
Becks was a brilliant player dont get me wrong but he has nobody but himself to blame for his exit from United, which I think he would acknowledge now if you ask him. Had he listened to Fergie and not Fuller he’d be at United right now with Scholesy, Giggsy and Neville but he wanted more £££ and more “freedom” just like Ronaldo.
@ Evra’s biggest fan
Fair points mate, and I agree with most of them, but the reality is that Becks was performing shite for Utd in his last season and was letting the celebrity lifestyle interfer with his game, as was his wife. She was saying allsorts when being questioned by the press when he should have told her to say nothing and thats what ended his time with us, and that was his lifestyle choice.
@ United4eva
Fully agree with you mate!! exactly how I see it!!
I think he was just answering the question. He was just polite.
@ Gee … true!
As i say celebrity lifestyle! as fergie refers to it.. the beckham media circus.
SHAME!
If Beckham WANTED to leave, he would have been playing for Barcelona, and not Madrid, as a bid from Barcelona was accepted first but Beckham declined that move, but was shocked that the club wanted to sell him. It was after that that Madrid came in for him, and he accepted.
Beckham has said that numerous times and Fergie has never denied it. Let’s face it, he got booted out, and he never wanted to leave, just like Ruud, but Fergie did what he thought was best, and as a replacement we got CR7. Worked out well, for the club at least. With Becks, that’s another story. Fair dinkum.
Anon – i am just wondering why some players like Brown, Park, Fletch, Oshea are still in the club. And they are less of the Stars, i suppose.
Fergie did what he thought was best. I believe you are not trying to emphasise that players are like robots and are replaced with the new more advanced models just for the sake of trying to do what some thinks is best.
@ Evra’s biggest fan
it is a shame mate.
When we talk about Beckham…i agree that he became a circus, and we know were you go, when you became like circus – RM. He was very good at our club, but one thing that bothers me is that he choose glory in front of club. It became more important…
But on the other side when we played with RM, i think it was next year after we won the CL and beat Bayern, SAF put him in the game in the second half. We won RM 4:3, but didn t get into semi-final or final, becuase he went into the game to late. He was the best player that match. I think that he played from the start, that we would get 5 goals and get in another stage. That happend when SAF and Becks started to fight. That year i can bet in everything i have got, that we would won the CL again. My ponit is, that he played marvellous…
David Beckham deserved the reception he got he was a Utd Player who still loves the club. The man is a legend and deserves to be talked about in the same breath as the Busby Babes Law Best Charlton Hughes Giggs Cantona Rooney. I think S.A.F managed him very well and Sold him at the right time, the celebrity status was effecting his Utd and England form. Good luck to him always.
Don’t worry Rooney, I respect a hell of a lot more than Beckham.
Beckham clearly wanted to move when his working relationship with Fergie became untenable… he needed to change to go back to his working ethos rather than drifting into center and all that BS [that idiot Sven] according to Fergie… but Beckham wanted Fergie to be accomodating, which never happens.
Guess who won – I must say selling him was the correct decision, even though Ruud didn’t think so and the rest is history. Fergie was brave enough for the transition, believed it was right for united and he was right in the end.
Also – remember stories of how Becks chose schools and villa at Madrid during summer when he was a United player… he made his mind up alright.
I think for a few months he lost the plot and was too much full of HIMSELF – it happens sometimes… and now he is humble.
Well, its alright becks, we didn’t forget what you did during the treble season. Its a pity your couldn’t stay true to your colors like Giggsy, Scholesy and Neville.
Rooney – I want United fans to respect me like Beckham.
What have you done to deserve that? Rooney I think youre passing in tight areas could be better at times but I wouldn’t trade you for Ronaldo (at his best) and Beckham (at his best). Youre on a completely different level, just don’t let it go to your head like Beckham.
he lost the plot and was too much full of HIMSELF…AMEN!
He is a good player, did lot for a club…but i think that deep inside himself, he knows that going to RM because of money, glory and in one hand trying to be bigger than club, was stupid mistake. I dont think, i m SURE that he was happy only in Manchester United. I hope that Rooney will be smart enough that he never do same mistake.
When you read what Cichino talks about Real, than you realize that Real is only package, but there is not substance inside.
One calls the shots, the other calls time
For a man who used to dominate the spotlight at Old Trafford, David Beckham’s entrance and exit was very much from the wings. Surplus to requirements at Manchester United seven years ago, no longer deemed good enough to contest a match of this magnitude against them. And what will Beckham have been thinking as he sat on the bench last night staring out at Paul Scholes – still plying his trade at the top level for the club he loved. Something the central midfielder is set to do again next season. The pair won a youth cup together back in 1992 as their United dream began. Beckham bagged six titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League in his professional career here. Scholes’ sideboard continues to require reinforcing. And while just six months separates Becks, 34, and Scholes, 35, one still influences games at the very highest level, one stopped doing that a long time ago. Beckham’s millions, earning power and celebrity status will forever dwarf his old team-mate. But what he could not achieve is the dream of playing for United all his life and retiring a United legend. His career just lost its way in a blaze of flashbulbs, headlines and trivia. Had it not, he could have been there alongside Scholes last night. As he disappeared down the Old Trafford tunnel for the final time he must have known that too.
Neil Custis, The Sun
THIS IS SAYING EVERYTHING….
I think poor old Beck’s head was turned by that silly wife; if he had met a Mrs Scholes etc…he would have still been a United player today. Its a shame for him; all the money in the world and he plies his trade in an American pub team playing for fans who are not as passionate as United fans.
I wonder if that has crossed his mind?