Family’s needs made David Beckham’s LA decision easy

LOS ANGELES - Reuters

AFP photo

David Beckham’s decision to spurn lucrative club offers in Europe and return to the LA Galaxy on a fresh two-year contract was an easy one to make, the former England captain said.

The needs of his family had always been paramount in any choice about his future playing career and Beckham was quite happy to turn his back on deals from Paris Saint-Germain and “one or two” English teams. “It was kind of easy, yeah,” the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder told Reuters after being formally presented with his new number 23 shirt at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

“At my age, just to have the offers I had thrown at me in the last couple of months, you have to look at all options. And I did but the most important thing for us always was where our family are happy, where we are happy living.

“For the last five years, we’ve had an amazing time living here in Los Angeles, with me working here, and our children are happy. So that was the biggest part of our decision.”

Beckham, who lives in the glitzy surrounds of Beverly Hills with his wife Victoria and four children, said his decision to re-join the Galaxy was finalized on New Year’s Eve in London.

“I sat down with my family, my wife and I had a glass of wine, and it was made then,” the 36-year-old added. “There was a lot of speculation going on but we wanted to continue our life in Los Angeles. We were just too happy to leave.”