David Beckham’s decision to turn his back on European and Champions League football in favour of the almighty American dollar has astonished football fans throughout the world.

At just 31, it was believed that Beckham still had much to offer the elite European game and despite the obvious improvement in American soccer over the past decade, this move still represents a competitive step down for Becks,

Beckham’s agreement to join the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS and come stateside was far from spontaneous and was born of a litany of factors.

Beckham had recently been dropped out of the starting picture with European juggernaut Real Madrid, starting just seven games this year. Despite this, the Spanish side offered Beckham a slightly improved two-year contract extension worth a reported $240,000 per week. Beckham had insisted that Madrid was the only club he was negotiating with, so the announcement that he had decided to trade his charmed life in Spain for an even more charmed life in America not only surprised Madrid officials, it angered them.

Coach Fabio Capello furiously declared Beckham would never play for Madrid again despite still having six months of his contract remaining, a stance backed by club officials. And its clear that hell hath no fury like a club scorned, as Real Madrid is also forcing Beckham to see out the remainder of his contract from the stands, ruling out a possible early switch to LA. Madrid president Ramon Calderon even went as far to describe Beckham as “a second-rate Hollywood actor,” although he would later apologise for the remark.

However, falling out of favour, and the lineup, at Madrid is not solely responsible for driving the English star into the arms of the Galaxy. The former England captain had many other options available to him after deciding his future no longer remained in Madrid.