United can live without Beckham: Silvestre

Manchester:

The departure of England captain David Beckham would be no great loss to Manchester United, the club's French defender Mikael Silvestre has claimed. The 28-year-old midfielder looks increasingly set to leave the Premiership champions during the close season, but with United targeting Brazilian Ronaldinho, Silvestre believes that other players will fill the void. "It won't change the balance of the team very much. Ronaldinho and Beckham do not play in the same position," Silvestre told The Sun newspaper. "I haven't got a clue about Beckham's transfer but what I can say is United have always been very wise in their recruiting from one season to the next. There are only one or two players signed and the signings are carefully made." Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan are all reported to be interested in signing Beckham after manager Alex Ferguson's decision to sell. Real Madrid are understood to have scheduled a meeting with Beckham's advisers on June 23 with the Spanish giants then giving the player four days to decide whether he wants to move to the Bernabeu. Beckham will not be at the meeting as he plans a promotional tour of Asia as soon as he returns from a family holiday in the United States. But Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas thinks his club will find it hard finding a place for the showman. (PTI)