United to resolve Beckham saga

MANCHESTER UNITED will attempt to resolve the mystery surrounding David Beckham’s future once and for all this summer

Despite both United and Beckham stating firmly in the last month that they had no wish to bring their 12-year professional association to an end, speculation as to where he will start next season has only intensified.

The apparent cooling of interest from Real Madrid has only given way to even more frenzied debate linking the England skipper with Barcelona, with AC and Inter Milan also reportedly standing by to make a bid.

Even the potential purchasers appear confused, with Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta yesterday back-tracking on claims that he had tied up a deal to buy Beckham with United chief executive Peter Kenyon.

“I have never said ‘I am going to buy Beckham’,” said Laporta, who had been quoted as saying: “David Beckham is guaranteed to be a star at Barcelona. The fans will love him”. Amid all this, the 28-year-old midfielder has continued his high-profile trip round the United States with wife Victoria ready to enter into discussions with his chief advisor Tony Stephens on his return to thrash out his immediate plans.

While remaining steadfastly silent over the whole messy issue, United officials have clearly grown tired of all the speculation and are now ready to bring the affair to its natural end. Having spent 18 months trying to sort out his present £90,000-a-week deal, which includes an estimated £20,000-a-week in image rights alone, the talks will not be straightforward.