David Beckham and his 275 million dollar move

David Beckham's move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy has been called the biggest sports deal in history. The deal is worth $250 million over five years. This report from Stephen Evans:

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His appeal is obvious with his blond hair, perfect body and winning smile, what some people call "metrosexual". Marketing people say his "key brand values" are "physicality, sexuality, sensitivity and success" He has a smooth image that already has huge female appeal in Japan, for example, and which led Gillette to use him as its clean-shaven face.

According to the business magazine, Forbes, the top earning sports star last year was Tiger Woods on ninety million dollars. But Beckham's closing fast by turning himself into what seems like a Hollywood image, aided by his wife, Victoria, who's famous as a pop star.

There's some life in Beckham, the sportsman, yet but much more in Beckham, the image. As they say in the business: "When the legs have gone, the brand plays on".

Stephen Evans, BBC

Listen to the words

endorse
say in public that you support something

way beyond the stadium
far outside of their usual sporting role or job as a professional sports person

mega
(slang) very, very big, very, very good

metrosexual
a non-gay man who generally looks after himself by keeping fit, wearing stylish clothes, having expensive haircuts etc.

key brand values
the things that are most important about someone or something (for marketing purposes)

smooth image
here, refers to both the fact that Beckham doesn't have a beard and also the concept that Beckham is a very well dressed and well-presented, man that people would like to know

has huge female appeal
has particular qualities/things that women really like

closing fast
reaching the same level as something else very quickly – here, Beckham earning almost the same amount of money that Tiger Woods earns in a year

There's some life in Beckham, the sportsman, yet
Beckham can still earn some money as a footballer (at least for a short period of time)

the legs have gone
not able to do the things that you used to – here, when Beckham is not able to earn money playing football

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