David Beckham: Defending his career.

David Beckham fiercely defended his career record and insisted his involvement with Team GB would be on merit and not because of his fame. "I have never said it before but that suggestion has always felt a but disrespectful," said Beckham. "Whenever I have been asked about shirt sales or filling stadiums it has always felt it is a bit disrespectful. Throughout my career I have been pretty successful, I’ve played for some pretty big teams, represented my country quite a few times, and played for managers without sentiment. “When you play for Sir Alex Ferguson, Fabio Capello, Sven Goran Eriksson or the manager that I have played under, they don’t pick players because they want to fill a stadium or particularly to sell shirts. “I have always found it an honour that people have wanted to buy my shirt and an honour that fans turn up to watch the team I am playing in. I have always found that a huge honour. “But no, I don’t want to be picked for shirt sales or as a stadium-filler, I want to be picked for what I can bring to the team. That has been the case throughout my career and I don’t want that to change.” Team GB play a friendly against Brazil at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on July 20 before taking on Senegal, UAE and Uruguay in Group A at the Games.

The Telegraph.