So David Beckham will be worth £10m to AC Milan on his loan spell in January, according to Professor Simon Chadwick of Coventry University.
This seems a massive overstatement for such a short deal, the fact that AC Milan are not in the Champions League, there is no major international tournament this summer and given Beckham’s advancing years – and that Serie A is now a million miles from being a top European league. Furthermore, I’m sure Beckham will be reimbursed handsomely for his Italian adventure.
But while there is little doubt that Beckham has over the years added huge commercial value to any club, it is a pity that this is all the press seems to focus on.
The way people go on about it you’d have thought he did nothing more than set up a stall outside the ground to flog gear to willing punters.
Beckham has always given his all for club and country – often in the face of huge criticism – and I’m sure that will continue when he turns out for the Rossoneri in the New Year.
