Becks wants to stay, says Dad

Ted Beckham believes his son wants to stay with Manchester United and insists he has never indicated a desire to play in Spain or Italy.

Speculation has raged about David Beckham’s future for most of this year, with first Real Madrid and, more recently, Barcelona and AC Milan linked with a £30m (€42m) move for the England captain.

Beckham, a United fan as a boy, has been on the Old Trafford club’s books for more than a decade and his father told the Press Association: “He is Manchester United through and through. They’re the only club he’s ever wanted to play for.

“At the end of the day he is a Manchester United player, he always has been and he always will be.

“As far as I know he wants to stay at Manchester United, but at the end of the day it’s his decision.”

The younger Beckham is currently in the United States on holiday with his wife Victoria and their two sons Brooklyn and Romeo and it is not expected that any discussions on his future will be held until he returns to this country.

He has publicly stated his desire to stay at United after signing a new contract last summer but that has not stopped the rumours.

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is said to be determined to bring Beckham to the Nou Camp as part of his election promise to the Catalan club’s members.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani insists he is “intrigued” by Beckham but believes there could be commercial conflicts between the club’s sponsors and Beckham’s endorsements.

Real Madrid have categorically denied any interest in the player, with both an official statement on the club’s website and an emphatic denial from club president Florentino Perez designed to kill the story.

However that has not stopped renewed speculation today that Real intend to hijack any move by Barcelona for the England captain.