David Beckham has that rare knack (one that comes so naturally to the world's best soccer players) of never leaving a place liked.
He baled out of Manchester United moments before Sir Alex Ferguson was scheduled to bludgeon him to death with one of Posh Spice's stilettos and
he exited Real Madrid to a chorus of derision. To be fair, he wasn't the first to farewell the England captaincy with tabloid editors and fans baying for his blood.
Now the familiar terrace clamour has risen again, as Goldenballs' time at the LA Galaxy seemingly reaches its end, with a loan spell at AC Milan easing the door open.
Of course, the public rage that accompanies his farewells, is matched by the unrestrained joy of the man's arrival. In his time at the LA Galaxy, shirt sales have risen 780 per cent.
Milan provides another chance for Beckham to be adored. Regardless, there is something admirable about Beckham's last charge at top-flight soccer. He has realised, too late perhaps, that a $500,000-a-month salary for showboating in a feeder league doesn't match the thrill of top international soccer. He wants to impress the England coach Fabio Capello and have one last dash at a World Cup. Can't blame a bloke for that.
