Beckham 'right to snub Premiership'

Michael Robinson believes David Beckham was right to turn his back on the Premiership and seek out a new challenge in the United States, but feels it could spell the end of former England captain’s international career.

Beckham will leave Real Madrid for America this summer to take up a five-year contract with MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, worth an estimated $250m.

A number of Premiership clubs were reportedly keen on bringing Beckham back from Spain, but the 31-year-old midfielder opted to tread a different path, one which has raised more than a few eyebrows and has put into question his England career.

However, former Liverpool striker Robinson – now a leading football pundit in Spain – is convinced the former Manchester United star has made the correct decision not to return to his homeland.

“I wouldn’t have gone back to England if I was him, for several reasons,” Robinson said.

“For one, he has played for a major football team there in Manchester United, and I imagine he could not imagine playing against Manchester United with another English team.

“I know he feels a tremendous amount of affection for Manchester United and why go back?

“He has captained his nation, he won the European Cup and several league titles with Manchester United. What is left for him in English football?

“You cannot get any higher than captaining your country. The only thing higher than winning the European Cup is winning the World Cup, and I think that David has reached an age now which he will wonder what he can learn, and what can possibly excite him about going back to the Premiership.

“He’s been there, seen it, got the t-shirt.

“Now he has a big challenge ahead of him – trying to help make something of the MLS, and I think it is an exciting challenge for him.”

Robinson, who left England for Spain in 1987 when he joined Osasuna, does not think Beckham took the easy way out by quitting the European game for life in the MLS.

“I don’t think it’s a cop-out, I think the easy thing would have been for him to go back to England and take money off of a football club, run around, and enjoy himself for a while,” Robinson said.

“I could have understood him renewing his contract with Real Madrid, to try and leave with a cup or some title.

“I could have understood him giving it one last shot at another European country, but I think what he is wanting to do now is not so much about football.

“I’m not talking about Hollywood or anything like that, but using his football to be able to preach gospel to a new nation. And I think that it must be an exciting moment for him.

“He’s got to have a reason to wake up in the morning. Money isn’t going to do, he’s got it. Going back to England, well he’s been there, and I think he probably needs a new challenge.”

However, Robinson does expect Beckham’s England career to suffer by moving to America.

Beckham has not played for his country since last summer’s World Cup, although a possible recall to Steve McClaren’s squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers had been mooted before the player suffered a knee injury while on duty with Madrid.

Beckham has not given up hope of representing England again, but Robinson feels it will be difficult for the midfielder to force himself back into the reckoning once he has moved across the Atlantic.

“I think his England career will be over. I think it will be strange for Mr McClaren to pick someone in the States,” Robinson said.

“Mind you, having said that, I thought it was strange for Mr McClaren not to have picked him full stop.”

One thing Robinson is confident about though is the high esteem in which he believes Beckham will be held when he leaves Spain, even if he ends his four years at Real Madrid without a major trophy.

The Spanish giants are already out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey this season, while they are currently five points off the pace in the Primera Liga.

Despite Madrid’s lack of silverware during Beckham’s time at the club, Robinson still believes the midfielder will leave a favourable impression on Spanish fans when he departs.

“Beckham has proven to be a gentlemen, showing honesty when it comes to playing football,” Robinson said.

“He gives 110% effort in everything he does, he’s been amazing. It was very much suspected when he came over that he was a model who played football, and there were lots of doubts over how he would play.

“The first thing that any Real Madrid fan or Spanish fan would say now is that he is a gentleman who gives everything he has got, every time he goes onto the field.

“I think its a shame that his time at Real Madrid has coincided with the probably worst era at the club in some time.”