David Beckham's new angel

Apr 10, 2007, 11:50 GMT

03/29/2007 - David Beckham - Americans love his helium filled voice © Solarpix / Photorazzi

David Beckham has a new tattoo of a guardian angel engulfed in flames covering his right arm.

Injured David was cheering on Real Madrid - the soccer team he is set to leave for Los Angeles Galaxy this summer - when he unveiled the intricate artwork on Sunday (08.04.07).

The star's latest tattoo, which took a gruelling six hours to complete, includes words from a Roman poem, which sources believe are a message to people who have slammed his talent.

Translated, the words read: "Let them hate as long as they fear."

A source said: "David has always used tattoos to express his thoughts. He believes his tattoos can ward off negativity and help him battle adversity."

David's career has seen the soccer ace suffer a series of lows.

In 1998, he had to endure the trauma of effigies burning in the streets after he was sent off in a crucial World Cup match against Argentina and was blamed for England's exit from the competition.

He was also stripped of the England captaincy and dumped from the team last year by new manager Steve McClaren.

David - who is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Adams - is said to have been inspired in his choice of tattoo by hit US TV series 'Prison break'.

The show's main character Michael Scofield has similar tattoos covering his torso and arms.

The 31-year-old father-of-three returned to Manchester to have the work carried out by his favourite tattoo artist, Louis Malloy. The tattoo reportedly took six hours to complete and cost around £500.

(C) BANG Media International