King and Crown Prince offer condolence to Iranian president over the deadly port explosion    stc reports strong first-quarter 2025 results with 11% rise in net profit    Virgin Atlantic celebrates one month of nonstop service between London and Riyadh    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR2.1 billion net profit after zakat and income tax for 1Q25    Mahmoud Abbas appoints Hussein Al-Sheikh as PLO vice president in key succession move    Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector attracts 76 million visitors in 2024    Third round of US-Iran nuclear talks concludes with cautious optimism    Multiple casualties reported after vehicle drives into crowd at Vancouver street festival    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Iran following deadly Bandar Abbas port explosion    Saudi Arabia deports 12,866 illegal residents in a week    SFDA clears first 44-ton medical shipment for Hajj pilgrims    Ministry of Hajj issued over 150,000 Nusuk cards for the Hajj of 2025    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Beckham set for United return
By Brian Homewood
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 12 - 2009

David Beckham can look forward to a return to Old Trafford after AC Milan was drawn against his former club Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League Friday.
Friday's draw also pitted Jose Mourinho, now coach of Inter Milan, with his old club Chelsea.
Holder Barcelona was given a relatively straightforward task against Bundesliga struggler VfB Stuttgart, while nine-time winner Real Madrid will face Olympique Lyon.
Beckham, who is rejoining Milan on a short-term loan from LA Galaxy, had said earlier this week that he wanted to play against the English side he left in 2003.
“Seven years have gone by and I want it to happen,” Beckham, who helped United win the Champions League in 1999, told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Me against United, great, no?”
Manchester United director of communications Phil Townsend welcomed the prospect of Beckham's return. “He'll get a fantastic reception as players coming back usually do at United,” Townsend told Sky Sports News. “Obviously he was a very popular player with the fans when he was there, a terrific servant for the club and we all hope he is playing for them.”
Milan's organizational director Umberto Gandini told Sky television they were happy to have avoided a meeting with Chelsea, coached by their former boss Carlo Ancelotti. “But we'll be playing against a great team in United, last year's finalist, a team that plays great football and has this type of clash in their chromosomes,” he said.
“They are a team that have many resources. Naturally, they are not the armored car (of the past), but they won their group easily, and up front and at the back they are very strong.
“But we also have our weapons to use. We'll have Beckham on our side - lots of ingredients for a great match.” Former Inter Milan and Portugal Luis Figo, who has taken an ambassadorial role for the club, said Mourinho would relish the return.
“It's always good to go back to a place where you have been successful and I think it will be a difficult match for both teams,” he told reporters. “He brought them titles. I think the people love him and it will be an emotional return for him.”
Barcelona's technical director Txiki Beguiristain was cautious about the draw against Stuttgart but he did allow himself a peek beyond the last 16.
“We mustn't be too confident about this,” he told reporters. “We must take it seriously. They will have time to prepare for the games against us and we must be ready.
“There are two clashes between Italian and English teams which will put two of the biggest sides in Europe out,” he added to Gol television. “That makes a potential quarterfinal even more attractive.”
Real Madrid's tie against Lyon will see Karim Benzema, part of Real's massive off-season rebuilding programme, play against his former club.
“It's a privilege to play against Real Madrid,” Olympique Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told Eurosport. “We played them four times and never lost, winning twice and drawing twice. We will not be the favorites but playing the best team in the world is a fantastic opportunity. Anything can happen. We must make sure we have no regrets.
“It's also great to meet Karim Benzema. I wish him a happy birthday - I think it's tomorrow. He's an exceptional player and a charming young man.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.