RESPUESTAS Y TRANSCRIPCION

LOW INTERMEDIATE - ANSWERS ARTICLE 05

A.	Beckham joined Manchester United.
B.	He and Victoria were invited to Madrid.
C.	Manchester United became the best team in Europe.
D.	He won a football competition.
E.	An Italian club tried to buy him.
F.	He played in the World Cup.
1.	He won a football competition.
2.	Beckham joined Manchester United.
3.	He played in the World Cup.
4.	Manchester United became the best team in Europe.
5.	An Italian club tried to buy him.
6.	He and Victoria were invited to Madrid.

TRANSCRIPTION ARTICLE 05

DAVID BECKHAM: WHERE NOW?

Many big teams in Europe want David Beckham to play for them. In August 1999 the Italian club Fiorentina offered Manchester United £35 million. The football star Batistuta plays for Fiorentina. He said: 'Beckham is the best in the world. If he is in our team, I will score more goals. You must buy him.' Beckham refused to go.

In March 2000 Real Madrid invited Beckham and his wife Victoria to Madrid. They wanted to show Beckham their beautiful city. 'I hope you will play for us one day, they said. 'I don't want to leave Manchester United,' Beckham replied.

David was a schoolboy footballer in Essex. Many London teams wanted him. But David dreamed of playing for Manchester United. When he was 11 he won a football competition. Bobby Charlton gave David the prize at a Manchester United game. Bobby Charlton is a famous Manchester United player from the 1960s. He said: 'David is one of the best 11-year-old footballers I've ever seen'.

Beckham joined Manchester United when he was 16 years old. By the age of 21 he was an important member of the first team and an international player for England. He played for his country in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. His best season for Manchester United was 1998-99. They were champions of England and Europe at the same time.

David is more than just a football star. His wife Victoria is a world-famous pop singer. She is Posh Spice of the Spice Girls. And she is tired of cold, wet Manchester. She wants to live in a warm country. Real Madrid knew this when they invited her and David to Madrid. Other big European clubs know this too. They also know that he is not popular in England. People hate his success. Football crowds shout very rude things at him. This makes him angry. Real Madrid think that he will be happier playing abroad. European football crowds like good footballers – even when they play for the other team. He will earn more money too!

'I don't want to leave Manchester United,' Beckham says. Posh Spice, Batistuta and the champions of Spain are waiting for him to change his mind.