Gazza just wants the quiet life

Paul Gascoigne claims he would welcome the quiet life if he was to join up with Major League Soccer outfit DC United.

The former England international, a household name across Europe, trained with the Washington club yesterday and could make a permanent switch to the US if all goes well.

Gascoigne was released by Everton at the end of the season, having spent the last few weeks of the campaign on loan at First Division Burnley.

And the former Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers midfielder admitted it would be good to be able to play football away from the spot light.

"I just want to be myself, I want a life," said the 35-year-old.

"I’ve been followed for 18 years. It’s not really a problem now, but I’m not as crazy as I used to be.

"I just want to try to get on with my life and enjoy the football I’ve got left in me.

"The main thing now is to concentrate on my week here in Washington and see what comes of it.

"I’ve enjoyed my first couple of days.

"There’s a decision to be made in the next week and hopefully I will enjoy the next few years of my career."

DC United head coach Ray Hudson, a fellow Geordie, hopes to have a package - believed to be worth around £5,000 a week - completed next week.

He said: "We would like to sign him, but there’s a lot to be sorted out.

"The purpose of this was for DC United and Major League Soccer to take an eyeball-to-eyeball look at Paul Gascoigne.

"He seems to want to give back to the game and he seems to want to enjoy his life.

"Over the next three to four days, we’re going to sit down with him and get it over to him in big block letters that this is unlike anything he’s seen or known.

"He seems very eager and willing to make that change."