By Alan Hansen BBC Sport football expert

The level of expectation for David Beckham will be huge following his move to Real Madrid.

In England, new signings are generally allowed a period of time to settle in.

Beckham will not get that in Spain, where the fans are notoriously impatient.

This country has lost its biggest star and one of its best players

But Beckham is a big-time player who will be able to handle the pressure that will be heaped upon him.

English football will miss him. This country has lost its biggest star and one of its best players.

Beckham joins Real Madrid

He is such a talented player and has been an integral part of one of the best and most successful sides in the world.

There has been a lot of talk that Beckham was sold because of a problem he had with Sir Alex Ferguson.

I don't think that is the case. In my view, his transfer is a financial decision, in keeping with how football works these days.

There is no guarantee they will be able to sign a world-class player to replace Beckham

The key is whether Manchester United plc have got the right amount of money for the England captain.

And even more important is how they spend their windfall.

There is no guarantee they will be able to sign a world-class player to replace Beckham.

What is certain, though, is that the person who does fill Beckham's boots will get time to adapt to life at Old Trafford.

The same cannot be said of Beckham.