Seven Years after leaving
Manchester United for Real Madrid, in what was a mega transfer at the time,
David Beckham is set to start against the club that turned him into a football god and global celebrity.
Facing his former club for the first time on Tuesday
The England midfielder, who never faced United during four seasons at Real Madrid, will get the opportunity during a second loan spell at Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.
AC Milan hosts United on Tuesday as the Champions League resumes after a two-month break, with the eight first-leg matches in the first knockout round split over two weeks.
An Italian source in Milan says,”Beckham will start on the right side of midfield with Pato just ahead of him in a 4-3-3 formation. Beckham has played up front in a three and it hasn’t worked – he is too old for all of that running around – but he is better off on the right of midfield, and we think he will start. That’s what we have been told and that is what has appeared in the press today.”
Beckham has been on the bench for the last two Serie A matches could replace Gennaro Gattuso in an attacking midfield line-up alongside Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini. This position on the pitch suits his style of play much better than on the right side of the three man attack for Milan. It is expected that Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho will then form a three-man attack with striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
David Beckham playing for Man. United vs. Leeds United in 2003
David Beckham did say it will be difficult to keep his emotions in check, but he admits this is the first time he will want Man. United to lose a match.
“As an AC Milan player, I want to beat Manchester United and to say that as a Man U fan is quite difficult. As much as it is emotional for me personally, it is important that we win the game. I am a Milan player and I want us to play well in the game and progress to the next stage.”
Beckham left Old Trafford under a cloud in 2003 after 394 appearances in 11 years, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson frustrated by the then-England captain’s celebrity lifestyle.
