Why Does Capello keep on picking Beckham?

There has been much debate on newspapers and talk shows about why David Beckham continues to be picked for the English National Team. While Michael Owen has been getting overlooked for a spot. Fabio Capello’s rationale of why Owen cannot make the team is that he is on a Newcastle team that is struggling in the English Premier League. I cannot defend that because David Beckham is on the worst team in the MLS, a third tier league among the leagues in the World. I believe I have an idea why Capello continues to pick Beckham in his national team and it falls closely in line with their days at Real Madrid.

I remember when David Beckham signed his 5 year/$250 million MLS contract in the winter of 2007 while he was on the Real Madrid side managed by Fabio Capello. When this happened, Capello shunned Beckham and told him that he would never play for his Real Madrid side again. At that time, Beckham became a practice player for Real Madrid. Madrid began to struggle during this period and it looked like Capello wasn’t doing a good enough job as coach and it would be another trophyless season for Los Merengues. Then around springtime, Fabio Capello saw that David Beckham was improving his play among the reserves. Beckham could have easily taken his foot off the pedal and coasted along, but Don Fabio and Beckham's teammates saw the improvements that Beckham was making and Capello decided to let Beckham back in the first team side. After his return, Real made a run all the way to the Primera Liga title and Beckham was an instrumental part of the side winning their first trophy since 03.

I do think that Fabio sees Beckham as an important part of his England side, and I think he does owe Beckham for his services when they both were in Real. Do I think it is right? No, but I do think it is an logical reason while the ageing icon is still in the side. However Fabio is not a stupid man, he is not going to pick Beckham unless he is playing first-team football in Europe during the MLS break. That is why Becks is desperate to go back to Europe. The fact that the LA Galaxy continues to be the worst team in the MLS also helps Beckham's decision to possibly return to Europe.