While on tour in China with his Real Madrid team-mates, David Beckham admitted "it won't be easy" to learn to speak Spanish, but bravely showed off a few phrases he's picked up with the help of his colleagues in recent days.
With most of the squad unable to speak English – and with training sessions held in Spanish – Becks has apparently had plenty of opportunities to learn.
He and fellow football heart-throb Raul held an impromptu language exchange during a massage session. "Raul was speaking English and I was trying to speak a bit of Spanish. I've learnt a few words – hola (hello), gracias (thanks), mucho (sic)gracias (thank you very much), si (yes), solo (only) and cuidado (watch out!)."
And some team-mates have been helping him with another category of Spanish speech – swear words. "Roberto Carlos has been teaching me a few things that I can't say here," he joked.
But Spanish wasn't the only linguistic challenge David met during the whirlwind day of meet-and-greets. He thrilled fans, including a group of schoolchildren, when he said, "I love you" – Wo ai li – in Mandarin as he received a Real Madrid kit bearing his name in Chinese characters.
The hunky athlete has made no secret of the fact that he's missing his wife Victoria, who is currently in New York working on her upcoming album. The former Spice Girl seen shopping in the Big Apple while David's mum Sandra cared for the couple's two children, Brooklyn and Romeo.
"Victoria doesn't have a nanny," said Victoria's mother Jackie, adding: "She does everything herself and is a very, very good mother. The only nannies she has are me and David's mum. She wouldn't want anyone else looking after (the children)."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
