The million-dollar man

But why has the former England captain decided to leave the most high-profile club in the world to play in a country where football, or soccer as Americans call it, isn't popular? Beckham says he relishes the challenge of playing in the USA and wants to build a bridge between America and the rest of the sporting world by making football a major sport. He's already set up a soccer academy for children in Los Angeles to help promote the game.

Some football pundits have been surprised by Beckham's decision saying it effectively means the end of his career as a serious footballer. But others, such as the former Manchester United and England player, Sir Bobby Charlton, think it was predictable. He says "it seems it was on the cards that at some time in his career that he would finish up in that sort of position in Hollywood." David Beckham and his pop-star wife, Victoria, like the Hollywood lifestyle. And, of course, there's his huge pay packet, which will be made up by his salary, sponsorship contracts, and a share of his new club’s profits.

Others think that David Beckham decided to move because he's been unhappy at Real Madrid. He hasn't won any major trophies during his four-year stint there and he seems to have fallen out of favour with the manager, Fabio Capello: Beckham has spent most of the season on the bench.

But Beckham has no regrets about his time in Madrid. He said that playing with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, from France, and Ronaldo, from Brazil, has been the biggest honour in his career.

David Beckham’s already played for two of the biggest clubs in the world: Manchester United and Real Madrid. He's been the captain of England and now he could become one of the richest athletes in history. If he manages to conquer America then, some say, he'll be the most popular British export since the Beatles.