I first got really interested in writing this book when rumours began to circulate that Beckham might go to Real Madrid. When it happened, it seemed that the scene was set for a fascinating encounter between the world's most famous footballer - the celebrity sportsman - and the world's biggest club. In a sense both player and club had much to win or lose with such an exercise, and the football world was fascinated to see how things turned out. Taken together the Beckham/Real Madrid story has all the ingredients that make football for me such a fascinating subject - power, politics, stardom, money, passion - it's all in there.