London, June 18: David Beckham is more than a superstar footballer. Blessed with good looks, a pop star wife and a talent for self-promotion, Beckham is among England's most precious commodities. Being David Beckham is now a lifestyle. Like George Best, whose name is inextricably linked with the Swinging Sixties, the Manchester United midfielder personifies his era, one obsessed with celebrity and image over substance.
A change of Beckham hairstyle is headline news. His dress sense is as closely watched as that of supermodel Kate Moss. His appearances with wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, trigger photographer frenzy.
Every man, woman and child in England has an opinion about Beckham. A national hate figure after being sent off in the 1998 World Cup, he is now captain of his country and a devoted father of two.
He is almost as famous in Japan, South Africa or Italy -- indeed any country where children can mimic Beckham's trademark free kicks in the park, alleyway or back garden.
It is this popularity which has attracted the moneymen of Real Madrid -- who agreed a fee of 35 million euros ($41.31 million) for the 28-year-old on Tuesday -- just as much as his talent with a ball.
His presence in the white shirt of the Spanish giants, the only club in world soccer that can rival United's allure, will stoke huge sponsorship income, replica kit sales and the club's brand image, particularly in Asia.
But there are risks for Beckham in a move away from Old Trafford.
He has spent his entire career at the world's richest football club -- and the one he has always supported -- where he has been worshipped ever since scoring a goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in August 1996.
Beckham now moves to a country where he does not speak the language, and to a club which is ruthless when it believes a player has failed, however temporarily. Bureau Report