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Beckham heading to USA: reports

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LONDON, England -- David Beckham is leaving Real Madrid to pursue a new career in Major League Soccer in the United States, ABC news is reporting on Thursday.

"I've played now for two of the biggest clubs in the world. I've played at the highest level for 15 years, and now I think I need another challenge," Beckham is quoted on the ABC News Web site.

Major League Soccer spokesman Dan Courtmanche told the Press Association that Beckham's representatives were in talks with Los Angeles Galaxy.

But CNN's Pedro Pinto, reporting from Madrid, said Beckham's representatives were still locked in talks with Real Madrid officials on Thursday over a possible new deal at the Bernabeu

Beckham himself has been training with teammates in Madrid.

His future has been the subject of intense speculation following reported remarks by Real's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, who claimed that the football icon's contract would not be renewed.

Beckham, who became free to talk with other clubs after January 1, has been linked with a number of top clubs in Europe as well as the Los Angeles Galaxy who play in the MLS.

Beckham has a number of business interests in California and a thriving soccer school.

The former England captain joined Real in July 2003 from Manchester United and was quickly labeled as a `galactico'.

But he has failed to land a trophy at the Bernabeu and under new coach Fabio Capello has spent much of the season on the replacements' bench, starting only seven of 25 matches.

Beckham has reportedly been stalling on a new two-year deal from Real because of his lack of first team opportunities.

Off the field Beckham's profile and commercial appeal shows no sign of waning, but on the pitch the past year has seen the 31-year-old suffer a series of disappointments, culminating in England's exit to Portugal in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Beckham announced he was standing down as England captain after the defeat and has been left out of recent squads by new manager Steve McClaren.

It is a far cry from his glory days at Manchester United where he won four English Premier League titles and the Champions League as they memorably won the treble in 1999.

But his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson soured during 2003 and he joined Real to much fanfare.


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Beckham has spent a frustrating time on the sidelines for Real this season.

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