Where now for Beckham?

SO what, or rather where, now for David Beckham?

As the Manchester United midfielder stood bare-chested in the centre-circle at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, applauding all four corners of the ground, it looked suspiciously like a farewell gesture.

Beckham was canny enough to hold onto the Real Madrid shirt which he had just swapped with Zinedine Zidane, rather than donning it in a provocative gesture.

But it is becoming increasingly likely that he will be wearing the Real colours next season and the Spanish side could leave Old Trafford in May with the England captain as well as the Champions League.

United continue to privately insist no final decision has been made on his future, stressing that Alex Ferguson will assess the transfer situation with chief executive Peter Kenyon at the end of the season.

They have therefore rubbished reports in Spain that transfer talks have already started with Real.

But it is clear that United must sell one major asset to fund a rebuilding of the squad and, while Juan Sebastian Veron should be the casualty, it is Beckham or Ryan Giggs who will surely have to be sacrificed instead.

Beckham has been left on the bench for both of United's biggest two games of the season, against Arsenal and

Real.

And his late cameo at Old Trafford, in scoring twice, was little more than that. Not a leading performance or even a supporting role.

While Sven-Goran Eriksson would not dream of starting a game without Beckham in the side up front, if need be Ferguson has proved that, in his mind, the midfielder is entirely dispensable.

Beckham should now take the hint and move on, for the sake of his country as much as his career, by stretching himself as a player.

English footballers have often been loathe to move abroad to further their careers, hiding behind the increased prosperity of the Premiership as a mask to cover their lack of adventure.

Steve McManaman, who was a shock inclusion in the Real Madrid side, is apart from Canadian-born Owen Hargreaves currently the one notable Englishman plying his trade abroad.

He said: "I always get asked whether David Beckham is a good player. Of course, he's a good player and, of course, the club would want him.

"But I also get asked what schools would he send his children to and where would he live? I haven't got a clue, no one has told me anything.

"Our season doesn't finish until June 22. If something happens, then it would probably happen after that."

McManaman, who could theoretically be sold to help finance Beckham's arrival, added: "It was a surprise that David Beckham wasn't in the team.

"Going into this game, we sat down in the hotel and David Beckham was in the United team that our manager had in mind.

"He's bound to make an impact in games because his ability at free-kicks and set-pieces is second to none."

Franz Beckenbauer weighed into the debate yesterday, insisting that Ferguson had blundered by starting the match without Beckham.

"Beckham was the best player and most efficient in the 25 minutes he played," he said.

Whether Real is the right move for Beckham is another point entirely. He would, after all, hardly be an automatic selection there either.

Luis Figo is a rather more formidable right-sided rival than even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while McManaman stands as a warning of how natural talent does not guarantee a regular first-team place.

Then again, Real delight in adding to their array of masterpieces at the rate of one a summer.

Just to keep the collection ticking over, you understand.

The attraction for coach Vicente del Bosque is certainly clear.

Not only would he add significantly to his squad, but Beckham could also be used in his preferred central midfield role and that could yet be the lure which is used to attract him to Madrid.

For it was not Ferguson's decision to start with in-form Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against Real which was really startling.

It was rather his blind faith in Juan Sebastian Veron's ability to put a six-week injury absence and an 18-month period of under-achievement behind him that was the real message to Beckham.

The Scot also seemingly struggles to cope with Beckham's fame, believing that he must cut him down to size every now and then with at least a metaphorical boot to the head.

However, it is actually the supportive attitude of the likes of Eriksson on which Beckham thrives, relishing the centre stage and responsibility he is given with England.

That is what he should now search for away from United and the attractions of signing him, even at £30 million, are abundantly clear to the Real board.

For he is the key to the lucrative Far Eastern market which they have yet to corner, and you can almost feel the shudder of apprehension in the United boardroom at losing that source of revenue.

Put it like this, they do not sell too many Paul Scholes shirts in Japan.

Beckham must, however, look out for his own interests. The writing is on the wall for him at Old Trafford. Now is the time for him to take heed.