LONDON, 12 June 2003 — English soccer fans have become accustomed to seeing David Beckham in the red shirt of Manchester United.
But they were faced yesterday with the distinct possibility that their national captain will wear the colors of one of continental Europe’s top clubs next season.
Whether it will be either of Spain’s big two or one of the three giants of northern Italy is less clear even if Barcelona are the early front-runners.
United announced on Tuesday they had accepted an undisclosed offer from Joan Laporta, who is running for the presidency of Barcelona in an election on Sunday.
For Beckham to fetch up on the Mediterranean, however, Laporta must win the election and then agree personal terms with the player, a long drawn-out process at the best of times.
Laporta did not name the other player he is targetting. Beckham’s agents said he was disappointed by United’s statement and he had no plans to meet Laporta.
One of last season’s four Champions League semifinalists - AC and Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid - look more capable of fulfilling Beckham’s ambitions as a player than Barcelona, who may not even make it into the UEFA Cup.
The Spanish media remain convinced that Real Madrid will make a counter-offer for Beckham.
