Football: English Eye on Beckham's Iberian Invasion and 'Fast Food Football' BOOK REVIEW an Englishman Abroad: Beckham's Spanish Adventure by Phil Ball Published by Ebury Press 4sportsbooks.Co.UK Price: Pounds 7.69 (Save Pounds 3.30)

Byline: Peter Sharkey

Michael Owen's and Jonathan Woodgate's relatively hasty departures for Real Madrid over the last few weeks have been in stark contrast to the long drawn-out affair which eventually saw David Beckham leave Old Trafford for the Spanish capital.

Officially, the transfer took place in mid-June of last year, but in truth, the irreparable split between Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson ensured the move was probably arranged six months earlier. Phil Ball has lived in San Sebastian, on the northern Spanish coast, for 13 years and, for a man who has already written extensively about Spanish football, the arrival of Beckham at Real Madrid must have appeared …