David Beckham's career has always been under intense scrutiny but not always for footballing reasons. His celebrity lifestyle and iconic status mean that every decision he seems to make about his career has far deeper implications. His recent loan switch to AC Milan has been no different and now he finds himself at the center of even more media speculation.
At the time of writing this, Beckham remains on loan at AC but is set to return to his parent club, LA Galaxy at the end of the month. His impressive performances for the Italian giants have put him firmly back in the picture regarding his England prospects. The player has made no secret of the fact that he wants to continue representing his country at the highest level for as long as he possibly can and if this remains the case, he surely wants to remain in Milan for longer than this initial brief spell.
Fabio Capello has also been public in declaring he will only pick Beckham (or any other player for that matter) if they're match fit and playing regularly for their club. With the American soccer season not coinciding with the European leagues it means Beckham is always likely to be left out in the cold at least for a few months, hence the reason for his short term loan to Milan. However, now he is in Europe and performing so well on the big stage, Beckham must surely recognise that to keep his career on the path he wants, there is little choice but to campaign for a permanent move to Italy.
The tabloids and gossip magazines will always say that Beckham doesn't make decisions purely based on his football career (as his move to the US certainly demonstrates) but I believe he will make the right decision in this instance.
By Thomas Baugh
