David Beckham Lovers

The Europa League - rubbish? Maybe, but not tonight after Jonathan Soriano scored this peach of a goal for Red Bull Salzburg in their last-32 clash at Ajax.

The 28-year-old Spanish striker, who used to be on Barcelona's books, spots goalkeeper Jasper Cillesen off his line before producing the perfect chip from the halfway line to put the Austrian visitors 3-0 up after just 34 minutes in Amsterdam.

If there's a better goal tonight I'm changing my name by deed poll to Red Bull Boylan.

THE DAVID BECKHAM of wrestling' is coming to Gloucester next month with a film crew in tow.

New Japan Pro Wrestling's Jushin Thunder Liger will be taking part in a show at the Gloucester leisure centre.

And a filmcrew making a documentary called, Bloodstained Memoirs, will be coming to interview him and film his clash with Roy Knight.

Wrestling promoter, Matt Jarrett, from Bishop's Cleeve near Cheltenham believed the film will be a Hollywood blockbuster.

He said the crew have already interviewed famous names such as Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley and Keiji Mutoh.

The 34-year-old said: "Jushin Thunder Liger is like the David Beckham of wrestling in Japan. He is so famous there; he can't walk down some streets.

"When he comes to Gloucester no one knows him really, but the film crew are taking that opportunity to interview him and film the match."

The SuperClash will take place on Saturday, March 29.

The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith Jr and the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima will be in the ring that night.

Sly Stallones stunt double, Luke Hawx, will also be wrestling the New Japan Pro Wrestling Prince Devitt.

Matt, known as the English Bulldog added: "When I set the company up with the help of the Princes Trust I was given contacts at G1 and so have always put events on there.

"This line up is the kind of event you would expect to take place in Manchester or London, but I wanted to keep it here.

"I think it is going to be a high profile sporting event for Gloucestershire.

"Cheltenham has got the Gold Cup, but Gloucester now has the SuperClash."

The event was organised by Matt's company, Superstars Of Wrestling, owned by Matt.

It is billed as having "a Galaxy of Superstars topping the bill, Wrestling Rampage brings some of the world's biggest grappling stars for a night of non-stop explosive wrestling action".

For tickets contact GL1 Gloucester Leisure Centre on 0845 643 4203.

For more information log on to http://ift.tt/1eX0c6S.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Miami Hurricanes are set to enter year seven without a bona fide place to truly call home.

Sure there is Sun Life Stadium-the Canes' current digs, house of the Miami Dolphins, host of a few Super Bowls and considered, by most, a decent place to play football. Still, folks who spent many a rowdy Saturday in the raucous Orange Bowl between the early 1980s and the early 2000s certainly know better.

"The U" is under contract to remain in Miami Gardens for the better part of the next two decades, but the venue will forever feel akin to sleeping in somebody else's bed-right down to the missing Canes' helmet in the end zone, lack of a logo midfield, hovering Dolphins presence and yards of dead space between the sideline and the stands.

While all of that brings frustration and despair, there's a sliver of hope for the University of Miami, courtesy of a pretty-boy, former soccer legend on a mission.

David Beckham has taken a liking to the Magic City and wants to bring soccer to South Florida. Of course to better his chances of doing so, he needs more than financial backing-Beckham must form a local alliance, and who better than the vagabond Hurricanes, in search of proper place to play, much closer to home?

UM represents an ideal, marquee long-term tenant-one with a solid brand, tremendous history and a strong following-currently backed up by years of losing and frustration regarding venue ever since that rickety steel structure in Little Havana was torn down in early 2008.

For Miami, jumping on the Beckham bandwagon is the lone, tangible option if a "home" stadium is an ultimate goal. The global superstar has the name, face, brand and connections to get folks excited and focus on funding, while UM president Donna has the savvy, politically background and a full Rolodex of her own, when it's time to shake the trees.

The tag team duo of Beckham and could be unstoppable, if both parties have a similar vision and can unite on the cause.

Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press

Unrealistic enthusiasts will rant and rave about a desire for an on-campus stadium, but it's a pipe dream that won't ever come to fruition. The City of Coral Gables would never allow such a thing, while logistically speaking, two-lane roads like Ponce De Leon Boulevard can barely handle random weekday traffic, let alone a home game on a Saturday during fall.

The 275-acre Tropical Park is five miles from "The U" and has been mentioned as a possible site, but nothing more than a petition and rallying cry from a legendary hometown running back have ever grown out of the suggestion.

For a private school in a metropolitan city, with just over 10,000 undergraduates, eight figures won't be allocated for a built-from-scratch concrete structure that will only see action six to seven days every fall.

For Miami, it's Beckham or bust-meaning that without a viable alternative, the Canes will have to serve out their full 25-year sentence at Sun "No Life" Stadium-which will remain as is for the time being.

A $400 million renovation was proposed and fell flat when the Dolphins' bid for public financing was blocked by the Florida House of Representatives last May. The NFL franchise was asking the state to approve just shy of $100 million in sales tax rebates over the next three decades and wanted public funds to cover upward of half the renovation costs.

Beckham's proposed stadium would be less than half the cost-while also about half the size.

Sun Life's capacity hovers around 80,000. A co-soccer and football stadium-possibly built at the 36-acre location-would have to be near 40,000 in order to accommodate the Hurricanes' needs.

Beckham's original bid was for a 25,000-seat stadium, but preliminary discussions with Miami made it known that the Hurricanes would need more than that in order to accommodate season-ticket holders (30,000), students (6,000) and space for fans of visiting teams (4,000), according to a recent report by Barry Jackson at The Miami Herald.

While Sun Life Stadium is bigger, the result certainly hasn't been better. Outside of against Florida State, or the occasional out-of-conference perennial power-Florida, Ohio State and Oklahoma come to mind-a sea of empty orange seats are oft the norm on college football Saturdays in Miami Gardens.

A smaller venue-with closer proximity to UM's core fanbase-could potentially have an -like impact on the Hurricanes. The rabid fans would be in attendance, making noise and providing that "12th Man" effect the rocking Orange Bowl had in its heyday.

Oregon's stadium houses just over 54,000-up from just over 41,000 prior to a 2002 renovation-yet is know as one of the rowdier venues nationwide. That type of quality-over-quantity effect could play well for "The U"-especially if Miami's port area winds up the new home base, a viable option with the Port of Miami Tunnel Project already underway.

showcase a stadium with an open end zone-in Orange Bowl fashion-yet with a more picturesque backdrop of a crystal blue ocean and the city's skyline, both much more in line with the Miami lifestyle.

While the major networks always come back from commercial breaks with shots of South Beach during nationally televised Canes games, Ocean Drive and NW 199th Street couldn't be further apart aesthetically.

The Miami program took a gut punch when Sun Life's renovation plans were cancelled but could land an all-time knockout blow if this proposed deal eventually finds its way through.

This project would rejuvenate a fanbase, welcome the Hurricanes back "home" on game day and greatly impact recruiting-while finally incorporating the unique city's flair into a one-of-a-kind college football experience.

The best club competition has our eyes on the pitch, but off it, here's your weekly dose of the best football rumours doing the rounds.

He knows what it takes to make a splash in the US, and David Beckham thinks Cristiano Ronaldo can match his efforts by becoming the face of Becks' new Miami MLS franchise.

The former LA Galaxy, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain star has bought the new franchise and wants the world's best player as its pin-up boy in 2017.

The Sun reports that Beckham wants to offer the Real Madrid man a deal similar to the one that lured him to America.

Ronaldo will be 32 by then, and perhaps like Beckham, looking for a new frontier.

If someone can stump up $65m, then Chelsea is prepared to let David Luiz go, according to the Daily Mail.

Paris Saint Germain is reportedly leading the race, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona also in the race.

Sami Khedira is a self proclaimed "Jose Mourinho disciple" and he's been linked with a move away from Real Madrid to re-united with the Portuguese boss in London.

The Daily Express says the 26-year-old is driving the move, but Carlo Ancelotti might not sanction it, and Nemanja Matic's move to Stamford Bridge might scupper the move.

Still at the Bernabeu, talented midfielder Isco could re-united with former Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

The 21-year-old could move to the Premier League in a $56m deal, says the Daily Star.

There will be late bids for World Cup positions being made all over the world.

One name we haven't heard for some time is Heurelho Gomes. Remember him? The 33-year-old is still at Tottenham, third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Brad Friedel.

Gomes, No. 2 in South Africa, is desperate to go out on loan to Leeds United to remind Luis Felipe Scolari that he exists, although Jack Butland is also on the club's loan radar.

Long term, Gomes may be tempted into staying at White Hart Lane if reports Hugo Lloris is being head-hunted are true.

The French custodian has been targeted by Atletico Madrid as a contingency plan should Chelsea succeed in getting Thibaut Courtous, according to the Daily Mirror.

So says Metro, as Arsenal plots which striker to sign in the European summer.

According to the report, Wenger met Mino Riola in London on Monday to discuss signing the $46m star, currently playing at AC Milan.

After seeing Yohan Cabaye net for PSG this morning, Newcastle United fans will be gutted to read that Arsene Wenger has spent the year scouting striker Loic Remy.

The Frenchman, on loan from QPR, has 11 goals in 22 games and could be brought in to provide the support many feel is needed for Olivier Giroud.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Chronicle says Rubin Kazan is circling and wants to bid for unsettled striker Papiss Cisse.

While we're at it, the exodus at St James's could continue with Hatem Ben Arfa. The Guardian says Inter Milan is leading the queue for the midfielder.

Who's next?

Why didn't Arsenal land Julian Draxler in January?

"It was a lot of money, but it wasn't enough for us," Schalke Sporting Director Horst Heldt told SPORT1, regarding Arsenal's offer.

Both Manchester clubs look set to slug it out for Porto's Eliaquim Mangala.

The centre-back is being targeted as Nemanja Vidic's replacement says The Daily Star, although The Guardian weighs in to suggest Manchester City hasn't given up hope yet either.

He has a $65m buy-out clause.

Wolfburg's Croatian striker Ivica Olic, 34 with 185 Bundesliga appearances, is on Mark Hughes's Stoke hit-list.

"I can prolong in Wolfsburg for one more year, and would also have an option [for another year]," he said. "What the club has offered me is very okay. I am satisfied with that.

"I don't know if I will stay. As a young player my dream was to play in Premier League. The question never really came up after that. And now, at this age, I get offered the chance."

Joleon Lescott has admitted his time at Manchester City is all but up.

"It's nice to play," he told The Sun. "They don't come as often as I'd like but when called upon I think I can do a job.

"Vincent Kompany is a massive player, a massive part of the club.

"It's been great to play alongside him in the last five years. It's a shame it's going to come to an end."

PTI Los Angeles, February 19, 2014 | UPDATED 12:51 IST

Singer-fashion designer Victora Beckham admits that the couple treat each other equally at home despite being famous in their respective professions.

Victoria, 39, said that her husband David is the most wonderful human being she ever met, reported Us magazine. "(David Beckham) is the most wonderful man I have ever met. He's a fantastic father. He's incredibly talented, a wonderful husband. I supported him for many years, and he's proud of me. He supports me. We're very equal at home," she said.

Victoria even supported her husband when he decided to move to the US to play soccer for the LA Galaxy in 2007.

"The decision, however, turned out to be beneficial to both. Living in America for six years was the happiest I think I've ever been. Yeah, it was much more accepting for a woman to have a career, as well as a man. And I loved it," Victoria added.

To get the latest entertainment news and gossip, follow us on Twitter @Showbiz_IT and Like us on http://ift.tt/1aKMnw7 For news and videos in Hindi, go to AajTak.in. ताज़ातरीन ख़बरों और वीडियो के लिए आजतक.इन पर आएं.

David Beckham has had more hairstyles than most men have had hot dinners. From the curtains to the mohawk, the ponytail to the teddy boy, everyone has an opinion on DB's tonsorial triumphs and disasters. Alain Pichon, the man who created them, is no exception.

A judge on Hair, BBC3's unambiguously named search for Britain's best amateur stylist, Pichon shares his top 3 Beckham barnets with Radio Times...

The Soft Mohawk"This was the first haircut that I ever did on David and it followed on from a style that he had cut in himself. It's classic DB because he's had many variations of the mohawk over the years from radical ones to this softer finish. I personally think that the softer finish suits him better.

The Crew CutYou can see that the hair has been previously bleached. This gives the style an outgrown look which is exactly as it should be because it softens the hardness of the clipped crop. This is a classic haircut that every man should have at some stage in his life.

The Classic QuiffThis is the haircut that reestablished David as the model modern man. It involves varied lengths and a high level of finish in the styling. I love this haircut as it's the classic shape all men would love to have. They'll be copying it for a long time to come.

And one that didn't go so well...

The Ponytail

A few years ago he wanted to keep his hair long but I told him to cut it short. Then he tried to grow it again and I said, "this isn't happening. It's not going to get us anywhere. We'll just end up with another ponytail and we've done that". I had a discussion with his best friend Dave Gardner who was there with him and eventually we worked something out.

Follow @RadioTimes

And the talented teenager has told his dad it would be a "dream come true".

Brooklyn, 14, is training at Fulham and last year he played for their under-15 team.

The budding star previously had a trial with Manchester United, his dad's old team, and has also been spotted training with Queens Park Rangers.

But as Goldenballs, 38, seals his deal with Major League Soccer, it looks likely that Brooklyn will follow him.

"As long as they enjoy playing football, I don't care whether they play at professional level or Sunday league level"

A source said: "The Beckham family see their future in the US at the moment. As a result, it makes sense for Brooklyn to play for his dad's team.

"At first he had reservations because people might think he'd get an easy ride.

"But it would also be a dream come true for him to play with his dad by his side. They're working together towards making it happen."

Becks wants to get his Miami team up and running in three years and has reportedly already spent £15million on the venture.

He has two other sons, Romeo, 11, and eight-year-old Cruz, who are also keen players.

Becks said: "As long as they enjoy playing football, I don't care whether they play at professional level or Sunday league level."

There is no news yet on the ambitions of daughter Harper, two.

The best club competition has our eyes on the pitch, but off it, here's your weekly dose of the best football rumours doing the rounds.

He knows what it takes to make a splash in the US, and David Beckham thinks Cristiano Ronaldo can match his efforts by becoming the face of Becks' new Miami MLS franchise.

The former LA Galaxy, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain star has bought the new franchise and wants the world's best player as its pin-up boy in 2017.

The Sun reports that Beckham wants to offer the Real Madrid man a deal similar to the one that lured him to America.

Ronaldo will be 32 by then, and perhaps like Beckham, looking for a new frontier.

If someone can stump up $65m, then Chelsea is prepared to let David Luiz go, according to the Daily Mail.

Paris Saint Germain is reportedly leading the race, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona also in the race.

Sami Khedira is a self proclaimed "Jose Mourinho disciple" and he's been linked with a move away from Real Madrid to re-united with the Portuguese boss in London.

The Daily Express says the 26-year-old is driving the move, but Carlo Ancelotti might not sanction it, and Nemanja Matic's move to Stamford Bridge might scupper the move.

Still at the Bernabeu, talented midfielder Isco could re-united with former Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

The 21-year-old could move to the Premier League in a $56m deal, says the Daily Star.

There will be late bids for World Cup positions being made all over the world.

One name we haven't heard for some time is Heurelho Gomes. Remember him? The 33-year-old is still at Tottenham, third choice behind Hugo Lloris and Brad Friedel.

Gomes, No. 2 in South Africa, is desperate to go out on loan to Leeds United to remind Luis Felipe Scolari that he exists, although Jack Butland is also on the club's loan radar.

Long term, Gomes may be tempted into staying at White Hart Lane if reports Hugo Lloris is being head-hunted are true.

The French custodian has been targeted by Atletico Madrid as a contingency plan should Chelsea succeed in getting Thibaut Courtous, according to the Daily Mirror.

So says Metro, as Arsenal plots which striker to sign in the European summer.

According to the report, Wenger met Mino Riola in London on Monday to discuss signing the $46m star, currently playing at AC Milan.

After seeing Yohan Cabaye net for PSG this morning, Newcastle United fans will be gutted to read that Arsene Wenger has spent the year scouting striker Loic Remy.

The Frenchman, on loan from QPR, has 11 goals in 22 games and could be brought in to provide the support many feel is needed for Olivier Giroud.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Chronicle says Rubin Kazan is circling and wants to bid for unsettled striker Papiss Cisse.

While we're at it, the exodus at St James's could continue with Hatem Ben Arfa. The Guardian says Inter Milan is leading the queue for the midfielder.

Who's next?

Why didn't Arsenal land Julian Draxler in January?

"It was a lot of money, but it wasn't enough for us," Schalke Sporting Director Horst Heldt told SPORT1, regarding Arsenal's offer.

Both Manchester clubs look set to slug it out for Porto's Eliaquim Mangala.

The centre-back is being targeted as Nemanja Vidic's replacement says The Daily Star, although The Guardian weighs in to suggest Manchester City hasn't given up hope yet either.

He has a $65m buy-out clause.

Wolfburg's Croatian striker Ivica Olic, 34 with 185 Bundesliga appearances, is on Mark Hughes's Stoke hit-list.

"I can prolong in Wolfsburg for one more year, and would also have an option [for another year]," he said. "What the club has offered me is very okay. I am satisfied with that.

"I don't know if I will stay. As a young player my dream was to play in Premier League. The question never really came up after that. And now, at this age, I get offered the chance."

Joleon Lescott has admitted his time at Manchester City is all but up.

"It's nice to play," he told The Sun. "They don't come as often as I'd like but when called upon I think I can do a job.

"Vincent Kompany is a massive player, a massive part of the club.

"It's been great to play alongside him in the last five years. It's a shame it's going to come to an end."

Wait, is Cristiano Ronaldo really going to play for the new MLS team that David Beckham is bringing to Miami?!

Eh, don't get too excited just yet, MLS fans. There are rumors circulating that seem to indicate that Ronaldo is up for the idea of playing in MLS one day. However, as of right now, they're still just rumors. But those rumors indicate that Beckham really wants to make his new Miami franchise a success. And in order to do that, he wants to sign Ronaldo to a Designated Player contract that would bring him to Miami in 2017. Yes, 2017.

That means that MLS wouldn't get Ronaldo in his prime. But if he did end up coming, we don't think it would make much of a difference to Beckham, the Miami franchise, or MLS. It would still be a huge deal, and it would give the Miami team a huge boost in terms of popularity both inside and outside of MLS. So stay tuned for more on this as it develops.

Cristiano Ronaldo with Detective Sonny Crockett. (Getty)

There are always a lot of dumb rumors going around that media outlets are all too eager to spread and that people are all too willing to believe. So as a public service, we here at DT bring you the reality check that will keep you from looking like a gullible Guti.

WWE chairman Vince McMahon interested in buying Newcastle! (A website no one's ever heard of) - What's not to believe about a report on a random website citing an anonymous source? For starters, it makes no mention of this rumor being around since 2011 and the fact that the Guardian debunked it last month.

David Beckham might name his MLS team "Miami Vice"! Like the TV show! And the less popular Colin Farrell movie! (Palm Beach Post) - This is one even I want to believe because it would be wonderful, but NBC Universal, which owns the rights to the show and film, would probably sue the David Beckham brand underpants off of MLS if they tried this. Plus Beckham's publicist, Simon Oliveira, already denied it and basically said you're stupid if you ever believed it.

Complete hogwash in Palm Beach Post on #Beckham plans for Miami. Nothing ever surprises me and some media actually believe it..sheesh

- Simon Oliveira (@simonolive) February 13, 2014

David Beckham wants to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for the Miami Vice in 2017! - I'm sure he also wants to sign Lionel Messi, all of Bayern Munich and 1958 Pele. You know, like every other football club owner on the planet. But the man doesn't even know the name of his club, when they will start playing or where they will do it, so signing Ronaldo or a reanimated George Best in three years is pretty far down the list of priorities.

Mario Balotelli to Arsenal! With the help of Puma! (Daily Express/Metro) - Rumors of sportswear companies engineering megadeals to bring their sponsored athletes and their sponsored clubs together pop up from time to time. This one was inevitable since Arsenal and Balotelli both signed with Puma very recently, but if these things happened, Nike's biggest footballer (Cristiano Ronaldo) wouldn't be playing for Adidas' Real Madrid and Adidas' biggest footballer (Lionel Messi) wouldn't be playing for Nike's Barcelona.

So that's the Puma angle out. But what about Mario to Arsenal anyway? Well, he can't stop saying how happy he is to play for Milan " especially in difficult moments" and he also says the only thing he misses about England is Man City fans. He's probably not going to Arsenal (or any other English club) then.

David Moyes resigns himself to just winning the Champions League this season! (Dirty Tackle) - False. Moyes actually still believes Man United can win the FA Cup even though they were knocked out way back in the third round. Being optimistic helps limit the Sir Alex Ferguson night terrors to just the hours he's asleep.

Brooks Peck is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter!

The former England midfielder is believed to be looking into a deal that will take the Portuguese to Major League Soccer in three years' time

Star turn: Beckham has said he wants to bring big names to his Miami franchise

David Beckham wants to make Cristiano Ronaldo his first superstar signing for the Miami franchise, according to a report.

The former Manchester United and England midfielder is believed to be looking into a deal that will take Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Major League Soccer in three years' time.

An MLS source told The Sun: "Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going.

"And none come bigger than Ronaldo - the world's greatest player. Ronaldo loves America and all that it offers.

"It's not a secret he has thought about finishing his career here, about living here - so a deal like this could be perfect for him."

The source claimed that any potential deal would be in 2017 - at the earliest - but that the possibility of signing such a global icon showed Beckham's ambition for his franchise.

Ronaldo, who turned 29 this month, would be in his early 30s by the time any move to the US went ahead.

Beckham outlined plans for a new Miami-based MLS franchise last week. No date has been set for the team to enter the league yet though.

The ultimate power couple! In the March issue of , cover star Victoria Beckham couldn't help but brag a little bit about her marriage to hunky former soccer pro David Beckham. The 39-year-old British fashion designer and mother of four opened up to the magazine about how she and her husband of 14 years support each other.

"[David Beckham] is the most wonderful man I have ever met. He's a fantastic father," she shared. "He's incredibly talented, a wonderful husband. I supported him for many years, and he's proud of me. He supports me. We're very equal at home."

Victoria even supported her husband when he decided to move to the U.S. to play soccer for the LA Galaxy in 2007. The decision, however, turned out to be beneficial to both.

"Living in America for six years was the happiest I think I've ever been," Victoria told Allure. "Yeah, it was much more accepting for a woman to have a career, as well as a man. And I loved it."

Changing her career from Spice Girls singer to designer wasn't easy. "I was never a natural," Victoria explained. "I got there in the end because I did believe that if you work hard enough, then you can achieve a lot."

Victoria also credits her time performing with the Spice Girls for giving her confidence and a good work ethic. "I think what gave me confidence in myself was meeting the other girls," she said of former band members Mel B, Emma Bunton, Melanie C and Geri Halliwell. "We always said we were all like rejects in our own way. We had to work hard, and they helped me accept me for who I was."

Now that she's a confident working mom of four, Victoria also told Allure that she removed her breast implants. "I don't have them anymore," she told Allure of her formerly large breasts. "I think I may have purchased them," she quipped.

For more of Victoria's interview -- and photos from her cover shoot -- pick up the March issue of Allure on newsstands Feb. 25.

New owner wants Bernabeu star to make Stateside switch.

David Beckham is lining up a hopeful move to make Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo the first signing of his new MLS franchise according to the Metro.

Beckham's Miami based side will come into being in 2017 and the prospective owner wants to welcome in Ronaldo, who he hopes will be ready to make the switch Stateside by that juncture.

Ronaldo may well feel that in three years time he will have achieved all his Bernabeu based goals and could then consider a money spinning move to Miami.

This source quotes an insider as stating;

'Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going.

'And none come bigger than Ronaldo - the world's greatest player.

'Ronaldo loves America and all that it offers.

'It's not a secret he has thought about finishing his career here, about living here - so a deal like this could be perfect for him.

'It is a long way off yet - we're talking 2017 - but it clearly demonstrates the ambition of the Beckham franchise.'

Indeed in much the same way as Beckham was the biggest name to move to the MLS when he made the move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy, Ronaldo's arrival would represent a massive coup for the Miami based side, who as yet remain unnamed.

SEE ALSO: PES 2014 best players: the 20 highest ranked players on Pro Evolution Soccer 2014.

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David Ramos/Getty Images

Hold on to your hats-according to (subscription required), David Beckham wants to make Cristiano Ronaldo his first major signing when his MLS franchise in Miami gets up and running.

If that sounds fanciful, it is surely because it is. Here's the paper's evidence for the scoop-an unnamed "MLS source" (via the ):

Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going.

And none come bigger than Ronaldo-the world's greatest player.

Ronaldo loves America and all that it offers.

It's not a secret he has thought about finishing his career here, about living here-so a deal like this could be perfect for him.

It is a long way off yet-we're talking 2017-but it clearly demonstrates the ambition of the Beckham franchise.

Asking if Beckham would like Ronaldo to play for his team is a bit like asking a child whether he'd like some Christmas presents. Wanting it to happen doesn't mean it will.

Even by 2017, when Ronaldo will be 32 years old, he is still likely to be one of the finest players in the game.

While Thierry Henry was the same age when he departed Europe for the New York Red Bulls, he was on the fringes of the Barcelona team at that stage. A lot will have to happen for Ronaldo to be similarly marginalised at club level. Even if he were, there'd be no shortage of suitors, not least Manchester United.

This is classic Beckham-style publicity. Of course, Ronaldo would not even consider joining the MLS until his career is well and truly done. [...] Sure, when he's 36 then Ronaldo would probably fit right in to the Miami lifestyle. But putting this kind of rumour out there ensures that the new Miami team is suddenly regarded as a potential destination for top players, even when it really should not be seen as such.

Forget Beckham-Ronaldo turning up in the MLS at somewhere near the peak of his career would have the potential to bring the sport into the American mainstream.

Just don't count on it happening.

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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

It was no surprise to see David Beckham return to the MLS after his successful period at LA Galaxy to take out his prior-agreed option of running his own club franchise, per BBC Sport.

Becks has always loved the glamour of America, with the country giving him a unique platform to further his brand and his career.

According to the Sun (subscription required) via , Beckham plans to fire his team straight into the big leagues with a planned swoop for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

An MLS source told the Sun:

Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going. And none come bigger than Ronaldo - the world's greatest player. Ronaldo loves America and all that it offers. It's not a secret he has thought about finishing his career here, about living here - so a deal like this could be perfect for him. It is a long way off yet - we're talking 2017 - but it clearly demonstrates the ambition of the Beckham franchise.

The Portugal attacker has now scored an amazing 215 times since 2009, averaging over a goal a game after moving to La Liga from Manchester United, per WhoScored.com.

A move for the player considered the best in the world, along with Lionel Messi, would be hugely ambitious from Beckham but not in the least surprising.

The added value that a name like Ronaldo would give Miami's new team would be immeasurable, and his presence would almost guarantee success for the club.

Ronaldo has always been a forward-thinking individual, and like Beckham, is wholly aware of his value off the pitch as well as on. 2017 may seem like a long way off but in football terms it is not. Ronaldo will still only be in his early 30's and with the outstanding condition he keeps himself in, he could still very much be the greatest footballer on the planet, when it comes the time to join the MLS.

Beckham showed the way for marquee players to maximise their brands and move to America to further their global reach. There will always be an argument that the best players in the world should remain in Europe so they can access the biggest club competitions, but Ronaldo has won every honour in the game, and if he can add a Champions League success to his Madrid CV, then it would be mission complete for him in Europe.

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Man Utd fans dream that their former talisman will "come home" and rejoin their ranks once his current deal in Spain expires, but that is unlikely. Just as Beckham chose not to return to England after he felt his time at Madrid was over, Ronaldo will also be looking for a different kind of challenge.

The allure of the MLS is not one of trophies or glory for Ronaldo, but as with Beckham the opportunity to maybe one day own his own team and plant roots in the economic powerhouse of the world. The lifestyle in Miami will also be too much to reject and Ronaldo will see out his days enjoying the football and the fun.

Ronaldo will join Miami if indeed a deal is on the table for him. The two are a perfect fit for a sporting adventure together.

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With adoring fans watching on, the naturally left-footed Finney prepares to unleash his right boot on a corner ball.

Both played on the wing, both were admired by their peers and both pulled on the famous jersey of Preston North End - although while Finney played at Deepdale all his life, Beckham made jsut five league appearances for the club on loan from Manchester United in 1994/95.

Both went on to become icons of the game, and Finney, who played for England 76 times and scored 30 goals, was described by the great Bill Shankly as the "best player ever born".Many a fullback would be given a torrid afternoon by the man nicknamed "the ghost", but he was also a gentleman.Current Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan recalls coming up against Finney when he was a fullback for Blackburn Rovers. It was Whelan's first match back after breaking his leg in the 1960 FA Cup final."As the opening match to every season Blackburn used to play Preston in a practice game," Whelan told the Daily Express last year."I was put back in for this match at Deepdale and who should I be playing against but Tom Finney."I thought, 'First match back after two-and-a-half years and I've got probably the finest right-winger there's ever been'."But he never took me on. I took the ball off him three times in the first half and when we were coming off I went to him and said, 'Tom, you're not taking me on'."I'd played against him before and knew he was a phenomenal footballer. He said, 'You've had some bad luck, son. I'm not going to take you on. I want you to get through today's game and get back into the first team'."I'll never forget that. Tom Finney was, and still is, the perfect gentleman."

Praised for his loyalty to Preston North End, he made 433 appearances for the club between 1946 and 1960 - picking up two player of the year awards along the way. After retiring from the game in 1960, he did not follow his former team-mates such as Shankly into management.He still kept his eye on the beautiful game, and reserved his highest praise for the Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool team after they beat Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side 5-0 in April 1988He said: "It was the finest exhibition I've seen the whole time I've played and watched the game. You couldn't see it bettered anywhere, not even in Brazil."Finney was made an OBE in 1961, as was Beckham in 2003.But while Finney was knighted in 1998, Beckham is still waiting for that honour.

David Beckham's press conference on Wednesday attracted 197 media members, but true test as owner will be harnessing that star power into successful Major League Soccer franchise in notoriously dismal sports market of South Florida.

Twelve years ago this January, the death knell sounded in South Florida, officially ending the Miami Fusion professional soccer team's four-year run with Major League Soccer.

Glum team owner Ken Horowitz lamented how "depressing" it was to go to the Fusion's Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale only to see "the parking lot with so few cars, and so many empty seats." He added that he and his Fusion investors had dropped $50 million into the team, but that the investment and the fan support withered in the Florida sunshine. The Tampa Bay Mutiny was contracted by MLS that same day, reducing the number of teams to 10.

"When we tried to sell sponsorships," Horowitz said then, "we fell flat on our face. How many times can you bang your head against the wall only to be heartbroken?"

More than a decade has passed in Florida - a span during which the local professional baseball teams each went to the World Series (with the Florida Marlins winning in 2003), the Miami Heat won three titles (and went to a fourth Finals) and the Buccaneers won a Super Bowl - and professional soccer has remained absent, that is, until a certain Englishman came calling last week.

David Beckham - the retired soccer megastar who played for everyone from the marquee Manchester United and Real Madrid clubs to the L.A. Galaxy - announced Wednesday that he is trading places, moving from the pitch to the South Beach boardroom, after exercising an option in his Galaxy contract to become an MLS expansion team owner.

"I mean, why not?" the 38-year-old Beckham said Wednesday to a crowd that included 197 credentialed media members, when he was asked why he had chosen Miami over other U.S. cities.

But while his smile sparkled during the press conference, and while MLS commissioner Don Garber fully embraces Beckham in this new role, there are daunting steps ahead for the former midfielder and questions he will need to answer.

Can Beckham, whose fame stretches around the globe and who is married to a former Spice Girl, lure big soccer talent to play for his Miami team? Can the Beckham brand fill the seats of a proposed new Miami soccer stadium? Does Beckham have the business smarts to avoid the fate of Ken Horowitz and the Fusion?

"The decision to exercise the option is a no-brainer. From a business perspective, (Beckham) gets an MLS team at a wonderfully cut rate, so that makes complete sense," says former U.S. national team defender Alexi Lalas, now an ESPN soccer analyst, who was the Galaxy GM when Beckham arrived in 2007. "But as far as I know, David Beckham is not going to kick a ball. Once the glitz wears off, there has to be a quality product. Regardless of who you are talking about, you need to have a quality and competitive product right from the get-go. This will be a reflection on David Beckham, post-playing career, and one of the biggest business ventures that he will be associated with so directly. He has a real interest in making this work. I like that pressure that he has put on himself. I think he enjoys that challenge."

Garber, commissioner since 1999, calls Beckham's decision to become an owner "a big day for the sport of soccer in America," and says he is confident Beckham can transition from his famous playing career into a successful executive.

"If you spend time with David, you kind of learn very quickly that in many ways, his celebrity is not the definition of his identity," says Garber. "He has really dreamed about becoming an owner. He's worked very hard to achieve that goal."

Beckham said during the Miami presser that he hoped to model his soccer team using the Heat's blueprint. "We will want to bring some of the best players in soccer to Miami to play on this team. I've seen what happens to teams when you bring great players in - I'm talking about the Heat," said Beckham. "When you look at a franchise like that, you want success. You want people talking about the team. And yes, we will bring great players into this team."

The Heat may be one of the hottest tickets in sports, but even the team's fans have shown their fickle side. During last year's Finals against the Spurs, many left Miami's American Airlines Arena during Game 6, convinced San Antonio would win the title. Miami pulled off the miraculous victory and then won Game 7. Heat star LeBron James has been reported as being a possible investor in Beckham's team, but Garber says that is "premature" speculation.

Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman, a member of the Fusion during its final two seasons, endorses Beckham's plan to be a hands-on owner.

"When you have an owner that's hands-on with any team, especially in our league, it's a big deal," Beckerman says. "It's not the case for a lot of clubs in our league, and I don't know about other leagues, but there's teams where they only met their owner once or twice. There's other teams that know their owner and have their phone number."

During meetings with MLS executives, Beckham demonstrated he's not all about penalty kicks and pinpoint passes, according to Garber. The MLS commissioner says Beckham was "poring over documents, looking at financial information, and asking questions that I think would shock people in the level of detail.

"The due diligence process that we went through with (Beckham) was no different than any other owner who came into the league," says Garber. "He wanted to know the status of our collective bargaining agreement, when our television agreements were expiring, what level of revenue is shared between the league and the clubs, and as much detail as whether the league was involved in player sales and transfers. He's a very bright guy."

Beckham proved his smarts when he announced during the press conference that any new soccer stadium built in Miami would be privately funded, and would not rely on taxpayer money.

"That certainly endears him to the community," says Lalas. "Having said that, they are still going to need public support in terms of how they go about the infrastructure of the stadium. But the fact that they are going to build it on their own dime, that is certainly music to anyone's ears."

Garber adds that Beckham knows that publicly-funded stadiums are a "controversial" topic, but that Beckham has "taken that issue off the table.

"Now the issue is, 'Can we find a site that is going to work for the community, that will make sense in downtown Miami and provide the value that David will need to be successful?' " says Garber, who adds that the Miami team will not start playing before 2016. (Beckham's ownership partner, Marcelo Claure, has said they are shooting for 2017.)

Although the MLS commissioner says, "I still feel the pain of those" Fusion fans and talks about how "tough" a decision it was to fold the team in early 2002, he believes Miami - and the country as a whole - has evolved tremendously with respect to its view of professional soccer and the importance placed on the sport.

"Look how much has happened since we made that tough call. The league has grown from 10 teams to 22 teams. We went from five owners to now having an owner for every MLS club," says Garber. "We went from only two soccer stadiums to now having 15 of our clubs playing in stadiums. The league has changed dramatically. The city (of Miami) is so much different. At that point (when the Fusion folded) much of the real explosion of diversity had not yet happened, and now (Miami) is filled with people from Argentina and Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Honduras - soccer-loving countries.

"It has us really convinced that now is the right time and Miami is the right place."

A more accessible stadium in downtown Miami would be far more attractive to customers than the city-owned Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where the Fusion played. As Real Salt Lake general manager and former Fusion player Garth Lagerwey says, the Fusion's "model wasn't perfect." Even with the right location, however, the stadium must be constructed with the humid Miami summers in mind.

"You literally need something to protect the seats out of the sun," Lagerwey says. "It's gonna have to be a little more expensive than some of the MLS stadiums because you're gonna have to have protection. It's literally hot enough during the day where you can't sit down on a chair."

On top of that, Beckham faces another considerable obstacle despite his cachet: grabbing and holding people's attention.

"It's a bad sports market," Lagerwey says of Miami. "There's a lot of things to do in Miami. The Dolphins don't sell out every game. ... When you're competing against sunshine, it's not always an easy sell."

According to MLS figures, the average attendance at an MLS game last year was 18,600, third behind the NFL and MLB for professional sports leagues in the States. The Seattle Sounders, who have star Clint Dempsey, twice had crowds of over 67,000 and the club set the MLS attendance record for the fifth consecutive season, averaging 44,038 last year, according to MLS figures. That average attendance would rank sixth in the Premier League, just behind Liverpool.

Now it's up to Beckham to use a franchise like the Sounders and duplicate the success in South Florida. Lalas, for one, thinks Beckham needs to go big, and avoid another fold job like the Fusion suffered.

"It behooves (Beckham) to do everything in his power to make sure it's successful - spend money, and do big things, given where MLS is in 2014 and where it will be when this team kicks off," says Lalas. "But, the (press conference) was much more about style than substance, and that was calculated.

"I think his time in the U.S. and seeing how MLS goes about their business, how the business of sports works in the United States - this cannot be a toy thing. This cannot be something that it's just there to pass the time and entertain you," adds Lalas. "Yes, you should take enjoyment in it, and have a passion for it, but this business is directly related to the bigger business, which is soccer in the United States. For those of us who have been around for decades, and live and breathe this sport, and have a vested interest in the future of the business, we don't like to see things fail and we can't afford to have too many of them fail."

David Beckham is reportedly lining up a mega-money move to make Cristiano Ronaldo his first superstar signing for his new Miami soccer team.

The former LA Galaxy midfielder is believed to be looking into a deal that will take Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Major League Soccer in three years' time.

An MLS source told The Sun: 'Becks understands the need for a big, big name in the team when it gets going.

'And none come bigger than Ronaldo - the world's greatest player.

'Ronaldo loves America and all that it offers.

'It's not a secret he has thought about finishing his career here, about living here - so a deal like this could be perfect for him.

'It is a long way off yet - we're talking 2017 - but it clearly demonstrates the ambition of the Beckham franchise.'