David Beckham: I wish I had stayed at Manchester United

Posted Monday, January 04, 2010 by theguardian.com

David Beckham: I wish I had stayed at Manchester United
David Beckham returns to Old Trafford with Milan to face Manchester United in March.
Photograph: Sportsphoto

David Beckham claims he wishes he had never left Manchester United as he prepares to return to Old Trafford with Milan in the Champions League's last 16 in March.

Beckham said he envies his former team-mate Ryan Giggs, who has spent his whole career at the club, while Beckham's path has taken him to Real Madrid then to Los Angeles Galaxy. He is now preparing for a second loan spell with Milan.

"I'd have loved to have stayed at Manchester United for my whole career and never gone anywhere else but it just wasn't meant to be," he told BBC radio. "It takes a special person and a player to stay at a club for so many years. Ryan's been there for so many years now and he'll be part of Manchester United for life – he's a Manchester boy and it runs through his blood.

"I'm so honoured to have played with Ryan through the years I did, and to know him as a person and a player. He deserves all the success he's had this year and in the other years."

Beckham added that he is taking nothing for granted despite the England manager Fabio Capello's assertion that the former captain will almost certainly be a part of his 2010 World Cup squad.

Beckham said: "I've never expected anything. I know I have to play quite a lot for Milan. I'm prepared to do that. Everybody knows I'm prepared to work hard to be part of the England squad.

"I've always been very positive and I've always said I want to be available for England, whether I'm in the team or not. I'm passionate about playing for my country and I always want to be a part of the England squad."