The president of AEG, the company which owns MLS club LA Galaxy, says David Beckham has been a positive influence on the club and MLS since he first arrived. Tim Leiweke is adamant that Beckham has been an extremely positive presence since arriving in Los Angeles in 2007 and is of firm belief he still has plenty more to give even at the age of 35.

"People keep saying I 'took him' to America as though I dragged him there, but we paid him $5m [£3.1m] a year or so," Leiweke said at a Sport Industry Group gathering in London.

"He is a bit of a lightning rod - a lot of people have an opinion on him.

"But he is the most fierce competitor I have ever seen. Never count David out, as he loves proving people wrong.

"He has been nothing but a positive influence on our team since day one.

"I still think he can play a role in any national team."

And Leiweke said Beckham's move to MLS was and still is a complete success.

"Did his move work for the MLS? Of course it did, people are discussing the MLS now," he added.

"We have Thierry Henry, David Beckham, home grown guys like Landon Donavon who have gone on to bigger things, so now we are relevant.

"David Beckham has made us a relevant topic in the UK, the home of football."