Archive for January, 2009

[lang_en]As Milan capitalise on the short-term loan, there is talk of long-term possibilities

The woman putting out the chairs in the San Siro press conference room looked nervous. “Do you think there will be more than the 100 journalists we had in for Ronaldinho?” she asked, as the ­minutes ticked down to tomorrow’s unveiling of David Beckham as Milan’s new on-loan signing.

Milan may be a huge club, owned by ­Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and boasting the biggest attendances in Italian football, but many in Milan were still struggling this week to come to terms with the pulling power of Brand ­Beckham.

“We understand this is not a normal player,” an official, who declined to be named, said. “He appears to travel with an army behind him.”

Billboards around Milan featuring Beckham clad in Armani underpants have not gone unnoticed, with the Milan forward Marco Borriello threatening to check in the dressing room to see if his new team-mate “is as well equipped as it looks in the advert”. The Victoria and David show will have a brief, two-month run in ­Milan, ­before Beckham returns to start a new season with LA Galaxy in March. The stop-over covers a winter-break friendly in Dubai then just enough time for 10 Serie A games and two Uefa Cup fixtures.[/lang_en] (more…)

[lang_en]Soccer superstar David Beckham has stepped down from his role as the face of soft drink giant Pepsi – after ten years of starring in the global brand’s advertising campaigns.

The 33-year-old announced he has walked away from his big money deal with Pepsi – which reportedly earned the star £2 million a year.

Beckham has appeared alongside Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles and Pink, as well as a host of international soccer stars, in the drinks company’s TV, magazine and billboard promotions.

And he is adamant the arrangement came to end amicably – insisting he wants to focus on other commitments.

In a statement, Beckham says, “I have nothing but good memories of my association with Pepsi.

“I’ve played a gladiator, a cowboy, a surfer, and worked alongside Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez as well as some of the biggest names in world football.[/lang_en] (more…)