Beckham misses British-style commitment
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-27 14:11

England captain David Beckham, who is considering his future with Real Madrid for family reasons, says he misses the competitive spirit of English football in La Liga.

England's David Beckham jumps to control the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifier match against Northern Ireland at the Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom. England won the match 4-0. [AFP]

Days after saying his children's hounding by paparazzi photographers had made him question his future in Spain, Beckham said he hankered for the physical side of English football.

"It's the competitive element of this fixture that excites me," Beckham wrote in his programme notes for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland at Old Trafford.

"The tackles, the challenges, the will to go that extra yard are all very much part of the British game....for me as a player and a fan of football, they are aspects I love about the game too.

"If there is one thing I miss playing in Spain, it's that physical competitiveness. It's what I've been brought up on and I can't wait to be in the thick of it this afternoon."

Beckham, who has often been linked with a move to Chelsea or Arsenal, returns to Old Trafford after making a 35 million euro move from Manchester United to Real in 2003.

The midfielder told reporters on Wednesday: "I've had a couple of incidents in the last two weeks that have made me sit back and think...I'm at the point where I don't know what to do, because it's my children now and that's different."

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