LONDON: Former England midfielder David Beckham has been training with Arsenal, the club's manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed, but rejected reports that he could sign.
"He called me. He has asked to come here and to work on his fitness. He has not done anything for a long, long time," Wenger said of Beckham, who is without a club after leaving Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of last Major League Soccer season.
"It's purely for fitness. There's no speculation about signing or anything."
Where Beckham, who made his name with Manchester United and has also played for Real Madrid and AC Milan, continues his career has still to be decided.
The 37-year-old, who won 115 England caps, was a key figure in the successful bid to bring the Olympics and Paralympics to London last year.
And if his football career is now over, he could yet find himself with plenty of offers of promotional work.
Beckham also played a prominent role in the delegation sent to Singapore which helped to secure the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for London and if he does not continue his football career, there are many avenues for the future.
With Wenger playing down the possibility of Beckham signing on a permanent basis he was asked what benefit there is for Arsenal.
He said: "Nothing. To help somebody.
"We are open for people who behave well when they come here."
Despite his United connection, this is not the first time Beckham has trained with Arsenal, having spent some time training with the London club in January 2008 during a break from the MLS season.
He also trained with Arsenal in late 2010, before he trained with Tottenham in January 2011, while this year his sons have been training with Chelsea.
Former Gunners Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell have also returned to Arsenal for training stints.
- AFP/al
Football: Beckham is training at Arsenal, Wenger reveals
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Football: Beckham is training at Arsenal, Wenger reveals
