Jul 20, 2009, 17:18 GMT
Los Angeles - Footballing icon David Beckham has shrugged off the hostile reception he received from fans of his own team when the Los Angeles Galaxy played AC Milan in a friendly Sunday.
'I don't care,' he told CNN in comments broadcast Monday. 'At the end of the day you can't be liked by everybody.'
The 34-year-old superstar seemed a lot less sanguine during the game, however, when a large section of the crown jeered every time he touched the ball.
The former England captain even attempted to jump over a barrier, as he left the field at half-time, into a section of the crowd that was deriding him. But he was held back by security staff, who also needed to restrain an angry fan who left his seat and rushed towards the midfielder.
The anti-Beckham feelings had been stoked by his team mate Landon Donovan, who last month accused him of being unprofessional and failing to put in the effort needed to help the team. Some fans were holding aloft anti-Beckham posters during the game. One read, 'Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here After You, Here Despite You,' while another stated simply: 'Go Home Fraud.'
'There was going to be a certain amount of that,' said Beckham. 'A lot of people predicted it. But at the end of the day, a majority of the fans were incredible to me and the team.'
Beckham was most eloquent, however, by letting the ball do the talking as he was involved in both Galaxy goals that earned the team a 2-2 draw with the Rossoneri.
'If he keeps playing like that I'm sure the fans will be behind him,' said his former chief critic Donovan.
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